MOL has completed construction work on the AV3 unit at the Danube Refinery, which was damaged in a fire last autumn. The project was completed according to schedule, so once the construction equipment has been removed, the gradual restart of production can begin. Following the commissioning and testing of the AV3 unit, MOL’s Százhalombatta refinery will once again be able to operate at full capacity, further strengthening the security of fuel supply for Hungary and the entire region. The repair budget totaled 18 billion forints.

The fire in October 2025 caused significant damage to the AV3 crude oil distillation unit. Over the past year, MOL has carried out a comprehensive restoration: the damaged reinforced concrete structure was demolished and rebuilt, and the affected equipment, as well as the control and electrical systems, were restored. Twenty-seven new, high-capacity pumps were installed, eight kilometers of piping were replaced, and 100 kilometers of electrical cables were laid. The construction work was completed according to the preliminary schedule; the next step will be to prepare for the safe restart of the plant.

In the coming period, the systems will be flushed, pressure tests will be conducted, functional tests of the process control and safety equipment will be performed, the necessary auxiliary power supplies will be connected, and the operation of AV3 will be coordinated with the associated facilities at the Danube Refinery. Every step of the process is accompanied by rigorous operational safety inspections and tests, after which crude oil can be introduced. Restarting such a complex refinery unit is a gradual process: production will resume step by step in October.

“Today marks an important milestone: the reconstruction of our plant, which caught fire in October, is now complete. From here on, we can gradually begin testing and loading the plant. The most important thing for MOL right now is for this plant to resume operations safely and at full capacity. The effects of the war in Iran and the global energy crisis have already spread to our region; everyone is competing for alternative sources, which increases the value of every reliable supply route and European refining capacity. Recent months have also shown that we can put our fuel supply on a solid footing through our own production, diversified procurement, and import options. With the return of AV3, we are regaining an important capacity: the Danube Refinery will become stronger and more flexible, giving MOL greater leeway in meeting domestic and regional demand,” said Krisztián Pulay, Senior Vice President of Group Downstream Production and Development at the MOL Group.

About MOL Group

MOL Group is an international, integrated oil, gas, petrochemicals and consumer retail company, headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. It is active in over 30 countries with a dynamic international workforce of 25,000 people and a track record of more than 100 years. MOL Group operates three refineries and two petrochemical plants under integrated supply chain-management in Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, and owns a network of almost 2400 service stations across 10 countries in Central & South-Eastern Europe. MOL’s exploration and production activities are supported by more than 85 years’ experience in the field of hydrocarbons and 30 years in the injection of CO2. At the moment, there are production activities in 8 countries and exploration assets in 10 countries. MOL is committed to transform its traditional fossil-fuel-based operations into a low-carbon, sustainable business model and aspires to become net carbon neutral by 2050 while shaping the low-carbon circular economy in Central and Eastern Europe.