Romania Suspects Russian Sabotage in Crude Oil Contamination

Romanian authorities have declared a state of emergency following the contamination of a substantial batch of Azerbaijani crude oil destined for the OMV Petrom refinery at Petrobrazi. The oil was found to contain dangerously high levels of organic chlorides, a corrosive substance that, if processed, could have severely damaged refinery infrastructure and disrupted the national fuel supply.

The contaminated crude oil, transported via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey before reaching Romania, was discovered during routine quality control checks. As a result, scheduled deliveries to Romania’s Port of Constanța were cancelled, forcing the Romanian Ministry of Energy to activate strategic reserves and authorise the release of tens of thousands of tons of oil and diesel from national emergency stocks to ensure fuel supply continuity.

Romanian intelligence and security sources are investigating the incident as a likely act of sabotage, with strong suspicions directed toward Russia. It is believed that the contamination could have been executed by injecting organic chloride into the extensive 1,700-kilometre pipeline, a relatively simple yet effective method to cause widespread disruption. This act aligns with ongoing concerns about Russian hybrid operations aiming to destabilise European energy security amid the conflict in Ukraine.

The impact of the contamination extends beyond Romania’s borders. Several European countries, including Italy and the Czech Republic, also received shipments of the tainted Azerbaijani crude, leading to operational disruptions at refineries such as Italy’s Eni and the Czech Republic’s Orlen Unipetrol. These companies took precautionary measures to prevent damage to their facilities by halting or adjusting processing.

OMV Petrom confirmed that their refinery remains operational and fuel distribution within Romania remains stable due to quick intervention measures and alternative crude oil procurement from African sources and emergency reserves. The Romanian Ministry of Energy emphasised that the temporary shortage represents less than 5.5% of national emergency stocks, which total over two million tons, and assured that reserves will be replenished within 60 days.

The suspected sabotage occurs against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the region and Russia’s previous hostile actions targeting energy infrastructure linked to Ukraine and its allies. Romania, a NATO and EU member sharing a border with Ukraine, has been a key supporter of Ukraine during its conflict with Russia, further contextualising the incident within broader geopolitical struggles.

This episode highlights the vulnerabilities of critical energy supply chains in Eastern Europe and underscores the increasing use of hybrid warfare tactics aimed at energy disruption. Romanian authorities and their European partners continue to investigate and monitor the situation closely to prevent further destabilisation.