MOL exploring geothermal resources around the Danube Refinery, Hungary
The Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, Hungary (source: MOL Group)
Carlo Cariaga
29 Aug 2025
Oil and gas company MOL Group has started seismic surveys to characterize potential geothermal resources around the Danube Refinery in Hungary.
The Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group has started conducting seismic surveys to locate and characterize potential geothermal resources around the company’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, about 20 km SW of Budapest. The aim for the exploration campaign is to determine whether there are high-temperature resources that can help make the refinery’s operations more sustainable.
The results of the seismic data acquisition are expected to be available in about six months. If results are encouraging, the company will undertake a further feasibility study for a possible geothermal utilization project.
The statement from MOL also notes that there are only few application of geothermal energy in refineries worldwide, and that this initiative can be considered pioneering. The Danube Refinery is one of the biggest in Central and Eastern Europe with a capacity of 165,000 barrels per day.
“The geothermal exploration area awarded to MOL includes Százhalombatta and the Danube Refinery. It is therefore obvious that in addition to mapping the entire area, we will also specifically examine the geothermal potential of the refinery’s surroundings,” said Dávid Kapes, Head of Green Energy Transition at MOL Group’s Exploration and Production Division.
“The green transition starts with reducing the emissions of our own operations. After the construction of the solar park and the handover of the green hydrogen plant at the Danube Refinery, we are now experimenting with utilizing the heat of the earth. I am particularly pleased that we can do this together with another MOL business unit, Exploration and Production,” added Krisztián Pulay, Managing Director of Downstream Production and Development at MOL Group.
RELATED: The Budapest Geothermal Energy Summit returns in 2025 to convene European stakeholders
