Serbia approves environmental review for Hungary oil pipeline

Serbia has cleared an important regulatory step for a planned 113-kilometre crude oil pipeline that would link Hungary and Novi Sad, a project meant to give the country another route for oil imports.

The Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection approved the environmental impact assessment after a request from state pipeline operator Transnafta. The decision removes one major obstacle, but the project still needs additional permits before construction can start.

The underground pipeline is planned to run from Horgoš, near the border with Hungary, to Transnafta’s terminal in Novi Sad. It is designed to carry 5.5 million tonnes of crude oil annually.

The route would pass through Kanjiža, Senta, Ada, Bečej and Žabalj, with further facilities planned along the corridor to support operation. The line would connect Serbia to Hungary’s oil transport system and, indirectly, to the wider Druzhba pipeline network.

For Belgrade, the project is part of a broader effort to improve energy security by adding another supply corridor. That matters at a time when European oil logistics remain exposed to geopolitical and regulatory pressure.

At the same time, the approval does not mean the pipeline is ready to be built. Financing, transport commitments, access to the Hungarian network and crude supply arrangements still need to be resolved.

The project is intended to transport Russian Export Blend (REB) crude, so its commercial value will depend not only on the pipeline itself but also on market access and regulatory treatment. The next steps will determine whether the plan becomes a working import route or remains only a connection on paper.

For readers following Serbia’s energy infrastructure plans, this is another stage in the country’s efforts to diversify transport options. Related coverage can be found in our latest news section.