Repairs at MOL Danube Refinery Expected to Be Completed in Q3 2026

Hungarian energy group MOL expects repair works at the Danube Refinery to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, the company announced in a disclosure published on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange (BÉT).

According to the preliminary damage assessment, the fire that occurred on 20 October 2025 at the AV3 crude distillation unit was caused by equipment failure followed by pump rupture. Based on MOL’s internal investigation, gross negligence, deliberate damage or external interference have been ruled out.

MOL expects the refinery to return to full operational capacity after the completion of repairs. The company confirmed that it has insurance coverage for both technical damage and lost profit, while the damage assessment process is still ongoing.

To mitigate production losses during the reconstruction period, MOL has increased the processing of semi-finished feedstock. As a result, average production losses are expected to remain at around 30%, fluctuating over time. To ensure fuel supply to the market, MOL will intensify shipments from its Bratislava refinery and increase imports from third parties in the region.

The company also noted that the repair schedule may be adjusted, as engineering, procurement and construction timelines are largely based on preliminary expert assessments.

No injuries were reported during the fire. The incident was contained and fully extinguished the following day by MOL’s fire brigade with support from local emergency services, using specialized firefighting materials and mobile response laboratories.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research 

The Institute of Danube Research views the situation at the MOL Danube Refinery as a clear illustration of the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in the wider Danube–Black Sea region.

The incident underscores the strategic importance of diversified logistics routes, backup refining capacities and cross-border coordination along the Danube corridor.

The rapid reallocation of fuel flows from other refineries and increased regional imports confirm that the Danube remains a key energy and transport artery of Central and South-Eastern Europe, capable of ensuring supply flexibility under crisis conditions.

For Ukraine and the wider region, the MOL case reinforces the need to further integrate energy security, inland waterway logistics and multimodal transport planning as part of a resilient post-war European energy architecture.

Photo by MTI/Hegedüs Róbert