Croatia-Slovnaft talks drag on over JANAF pipeline capacity testing as regional supply stakes rise

Uncertainty is persisting around the operational capacity of a key regional oil transport route after Slovak refinery operator Slovnaft said talks with Croatia’s pipeline operator have not yet resulted in a final agreement on comprehensive capacity testing. The dispute matters for investors and energy planners because the JANAF corridor is increasingly central to efforts by Hungary and Slovakia to strengthen supply security amid concerns about non-Russian crude availability.

Why the JANAF corridor has become more important

Slovnaft said the pipeline system has gained strategic importance for Hungary and Slovakia, particularly as both countries seek to reduce dependence on Russian crude oil following disruptions to supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. In that setting, the JANAF route is being treated as a critical alternative channel for non-Russian imports.

Slovnaft calls for broader technical assessment

According to Slovnaft management, a full technical assessment of the entire pipeline under different seasonal and operational conditions is needed to verify whether it can consistently meet regional demand. The company’s position is that only extensive testing can provide a reliable evaluation of the system’s true transport capacity.

Croatia and JANAF point to existing throughput

Croatian authorities and JANAF, by contrast, maintain that current infrastructure is already capable of handling sufficient volumes. They cite an estimated annual capacity of around 15 million tons and say this level is adequate to supply refineries operated by the MOL Group in Hungary and Slovakia.

Disagreement underscores wider supply-security priorities

The differing views highlight an ongoing disagreement over how much confidence stakeholders should place in infrastructure performance—at a time when energy diversification and supply security remain top priorities across Central and Eastern Europe.