The refineries plan to start tapping state oil reserves, with the Slovak government on Wednesday approving a loan of 250,000 tons.
Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said the Hungarian government had also freed up strategic oil reserves following a request from refiner MOL
(MOLB.BU), opens new tab.
ACCUSATIONS FLY
Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of delaying a restart to flows for political reasons, and on Wednesday they announced a halt in diesel exports to Ukraine.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal opponent of Ukraine's bid to join the European Union, and Hungary and Slovakia have both maintained good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin through almost four years of war in Ukraine.
"We are also considering the option of stopping power and gas shipments towards Ukraine," Gulyas said, adding that Budapest was coordinating its steps with Slovakia, unless Ukraine
resumes crude delivery via Druzhba.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday also raised the possibility of halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
"There will be further countermeasures if the Ukrainian government does not change its decision and continues to halt the Druzhba pipeline with false arguments," Gulyas said.
Reuters has requested comments from the Ukrainian foreign ministry and the state oil and gas company.
Hungary and Slovakia have accounted for 68% of Ukraine's imported power this month, according to Kyiv-based consultancy ExPro. Hungary also accounts for about a third of Ukraine's current gas imports, according to the country's gas transit operator.