[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Pete [@splendid_pete](/creator/twitter/splendid_pete) on x 13.4K followers Created: 2025-07-21 11:29:12 UTC It’s all bullshit. Hungary could get oil from other sources, possibly cheaper. But it won’t, because Orbán’s regime is addicted to Russian crude like a back-alley junkie. ⸻ 🛢 Where Hungary could get cheaper or competitive oil: ‣ Adriatic (JANAF) pipeline via Croatia Hungary could import up to X million tons per year of non-Russian oil through the Croatian port of Omišalj. That’s real, operational, and already connected to the Duna refinery. No fantasy, no theory. Just pay the damn fee and turn on the tap. ‣ Azerbaijan MOL already signed deals for Azeri crude. More could be brought in through existing routes if Hungary was serious about cutting the Kremlin leash. ‣ Iraq and Kazakhstan (via tankers to Omišalj or Trieste) Plenty of light, sweet crude from the Middle East and Central Asia is available at globally competitive rates. Croatia’s JANAF and Italy’s Trieste ports can handle it with some logistics juggling. ‣ Black Sea routes via Romania or Bulgaria Pipelines and rail connections exist to deliver oil from Georgian or Caspian tankers through Romanian or Bulgarian ports. Not ideal, but fully possible. Just inconvenient if your boss is Putin. ⸻ 🤡 Why Hungary doesn’t use these cheaper alternatives: ‣ MOL = cartel plus Kremlin stooge MOL built its entire downstream refinery and trading system around Russian Urals. Switching to other blends would hurt their margins. In other words, they’d have to actually work. ‣ Transit fees = Orbán’s tantrum excuse They cry about Croatian transit fees, which are laughable compared to the geopolitical cost of being Putin’s European lapdog. Croatia charges about €1.57 per barrel. That’s pennies. ‣ Kickbacks and loyalty Moscow rewards loyalty, and Hungary got EU exemptions on Russian oil sanctions. That’s money in the bank and leverage at home. No way they’re giving that up voluntarily. ‣ Orbán’s anti-EU PR narrative If Hungary diversified its oil supply, they couldn’t keep blaming Brussels for every price hike. The whole propaganda machine depends on pretending there are no other options. ‣ Refinery upgrades “in progress” = delay theater MOL says it’s upgrading refineries to process non-Russian blends by 2026 or later. In reality, they’re stalling to milk the Russian setup for as long as politically tolerable. Hungary is choosing Russian oil, not because it’s the cheapest, but because it’s politically convenient, financially entangled, and essential to Orbán’s anti-West victim act. Alternatives are real and available. They just don’t serve the regime’s addiction to control, cash, and Kremlin loyalty. XXX engagements  **Related Topics** [budapest](/topic/budapest) [coins energy](/topic/coins-energy) [serbia](/topic/serbia) [croatia](/topic/croatia) [hungary](/topic/hungary) [Post Link](https://x.com/splendid_pete/status/1947257550195331076)
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Pete @splendid_pete on x 13.4K followers
Created: 2025-07-21 11:29:12 UTC
It’s all bullshit.
Hungary could get oil from other sources, possibly cheaper. But it won’t, because Orbán’s regime is addicted to Russian crude like a back-alley junkie.
⸻
🛢 Where Hungary could get cheaper or competitive oil:
‣ Adriatic (JANAF) pipeline via Croatia Hungary could import up to X million tons per year of non-Russian oil through the Croatian port of Omišalj. That’s real, operational, and already connected to the Duna refinery. No fantasy, no theory. Just pay the damn fee and turn on the tap.
‣ Azerbaijan MOL already signed deals for Azeri crude. More could be brought in through existing routes if Hungary was serious about cutting the Kremlin leash.
‣ Iraq and Kazakhstan (via tankers to Omišalj or Trieste) Plenty of light, sweet crude from the Middle East and Central Asia is available at globally competitive rates. Croatia’s JANAF and Italy’s Trieste ports can handle it with some logistics juggling.
‣ Black Sea routes via Romania or Bulgaria Pipelines and rail connections exist to deliver oil from Georgian or Caspian tankers through Romanian or Bulgarian ports. Not ideal, but fully possible. Just inconvenient if your boss is Putin.
⸻
🤡 Why Hungary doesn’t use these cheaper alternatives:
‣ MOL = cartel plus Kremlin stooge MOL built its entire downstream refinery and trading system around Russian Urals. Switching to other blends would hurt their margins. In other words, they’d have to actually work.
‣ Transit fees = Orbán’s tantrum excuse They cry about Croatian transit fees, which are laughable compared to the geopolitical cost of being Putin’s European lapdog. Croatia charges about €1.57 per barrel. That’s pennies.
‣ Kickbacks and loyalty Moscow rewards loyalty, and Hungary got EU exemptions on Russian oil sanctions. That’s money in the bank and leverage at home. No way they’re giving that up voluntarily.
‣ Orbán’s anti-EU PR narrative If Hungary diversified its oil supply, they couldn’t keep blaming Brussels for every price hike. The whole propaganda machine depends on pretending there are no other options.
‣ Refinery upgrades “in progress” = delay theater MOL says it’s upgrading refineries to process non-Russian blends by 2026 or later. In reality, they’re stalling to milk the Russian setup for as long as politically tolerable.
Hungary is choosing Russian oil, not because it’s the cheapest, but because it’s politically convenient, financially entangled, and essential to Orbán’s anti-West victim act. Alternatives are real and available. They just don’t serve the regime’s addiction to control, cash, and Kremlin loyalty.
XXX engagements
Related Topics budapest coins energy serbia croatia hungary