Fire at the Százhalombatta oil refinery

We are updating this article as new information becomes available.

A fire and an explosion occurred late on 20 October at MOL’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, as reported by the National Directorate General for Disaster Management. Nearly fifty firefighters worked through the night using multiple methods to contain the fire.

MOL’s official statement confirmed that the fire had broken out in the AV3 production unit: “Following the alarm, MOL’s facility fire brigade immediately began intervention and managed to localise the fire within a short time. Firefighting operations are still ongoing. The heavy smoke generated during the extinguishing process was visible from several nearby settlements. No injuries occurred as a result of the incident, and there was no danger to the surrounding towns. Both official and internal investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the accident.”

MOL later released a similar statement on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange. It added that, alongside the damage assessment, the company was gradually restarting the production units that had not been affected by the fire.

According to MOL, the authorities have been continuously monitoring air quality, and no values exceeding health limits have been detected. The company also stated that Hungary’s fuel supply remains secure, although “the use of the strategic reserves is also being considered.”

Currently, Hungary has more than three months’ worth of reserves of its main fuel types.

On Monday, October 20, an explosion occurred at the Lukoil oil refinery too, in the Romanian city of Ploiești, according to Digi24. Romanian authorities confirmed that the explosion happened on the grounds of the Petrotel Lukoil refinery. In addition to the material damage, a 56-year-old worker was also injured. Major repair works are currently underway at the Ploiești refinery site, that have begun just a few days earlier.