The oil pipelines have a strategic importance in the energy supply of the European Union (EU), especially given the fact that in the next two decades the crude oil will continue to be a dominant energy source, accounting for approx. 30% of the primary energy consumption, along with a reduction in the petroleum product consumption and growth in renewables. Europe has a widespread network of oil pipelines of approx. 22,5 thousand kilometres (without Russia), connecting refineries to import oil ports or to land-based crude oil sources. The refineries of the Central Eastern Europe are supplied mainly from the Druzhba oil pipeline. Recently, these refineries have diversified their crude oil supply routes and sources, by sea imports from the North Sea, the Middle East, Canada and others (Poland) or by the TAL – IKL oil pipelines (Czech Republic) and the JANAF oil pipeline (Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic). Given the insufficient diversification of crude oil supply precisely of the Central Eastern European region, particularly the landlocked countries (and refineries respectively), the EU has envisaged, among the projects of common interests, also six connection oil pipelines with terminals. At the same time, they are the only pipelines planned to be constructed in Europe and financed by the oil companies' funds. The oil pipeline companies hastily modify their strategies by expanding business and becoming more and more transport-storage-energy oriented, and by investing in the flow reversal of oil pipelines and connection pipelines, storage capacities, as well as in enhancement of efficiency and flexibility of oil pipeline and storage infrastructures.
Nafta je imala značajni utjecaj na razvoj svjetskog pa tako i hrvatskog gospodarstva. Dinamičan rast proizvodnje, prerade i potrošnje nafte, posebno 1970. tih i 1980. tih godina bio je praćen i utjecao je na znatno veće stope rasta bruto domaćeg proizvoda nego su one posljednjih godina. Velike nafte kompanije bile su nositelji gospodarskog razvoja na svjetskoj razini, a na lokalnoj razini to su manje nacionalne kompanije, kao što su INA d.d. i JANAF d.d. u Hrvatskoj. Naftno gospodarstvo razvijalo se u turbuletnim uvjetima naftnog tržišta uz stalne oscilacije cijena nafte, prilagođavajući se izazovima provedbe novih energetskih politika i mjera u vezi klimatskih promjena, političkim krizama, i dr. Posljednjih godina proizvodnja i potrošnja nafte stagniraju na svjetskoj razini (4,2 -4,3 milijarde tona), pri čemu se u razvijenim državama bilježi pad, a veće stope rasta u Kini, Indiji i rastućim ekonomijama Azije. Počeci nafte (istraživanje i proizvodnja) u Hrvatskoj bili su u prvoj polovici 19. stoljeća, odnosno krajem 19. i početkom 20. stoljeća (rafinerije). Procvat naftnog gospodarstva Hrvatske u 1970. tim i 1980. tim godinama obilježili su rekordna proizvodnja nafte od 3,1 mil. tona (1981.) prema današnjih 613 tisuća tona (2015.) i rekordna prerada od 9,2 mil. tona (1979.) prema današnjih 3,5 mil. tona. Hrvatska sudjeluje s 0,145 promila u svjetskoj proizvodnji nafte i s 0,862 promila u svjetskoj potrošnji nafte. Daljnji razvoj i globalizacija naftnog sektora može se desiti intenziviranjem istraživanja i proizvodnje nafte kako u Hrvatskoj tako i u inozemstvu, ali i uz modernizaciju rafinerija i povećanje udjela na domaćem i inozemnim tržištima. Transport nafte pratio je razvoj prerade nafte na domaćem tržištu, ali posebno na inozemnim tržištima država jugoistočne i srednje Europe, pa je tako najveći transport od 9,7 mil. tona ostvaren u 1990. prema 6,2 mil. tona u 2015. s trendom rasta zbog povećanja transporta za inozemne rafinerije i njihove diverzifikacije uvoza nafte iz pravca Omišlja. Strategija diverzifikacije prema skladištenju nafte i naftnih derivata podržava i dalje rast kako naftnih kompanija tako i hrvatske ekonomije. Naftno gospodarstvo Hrvatske biti će i dalje pod utjecajem promjenjivog naftnog tržišta kojeg obilježava: promjenjivost cijena, globalni trend smanjenja potrošnje derivata, stroža regulativa i standardi kvalitete, politika i mjere za povećanjem sigurnosti opskrbe, rast troškova i investicija uz pritiske smanjenja cijena, trend rasta uvoza i konkurentnosti derivata, diverzifikacija izvora i pravaca opskrbe, i dr. Zbog toga su nužne kontinuirane prilagodbe, brzi odgovori na izazove i razvoj novih strategija diverzifikacije i rasta. ; Crude oil had a significant influence on the development of both global and Croatian economies. The dynamic growth of production, refining and consumption of crude oil, especially in the 1970s and 1980s was followed by and influenced the significantly higher growth rates of the gross domestic product than those occurred during the last years. Major oil companies were the leaders of the economic development on the global level, while at the local level such leaders are smaller national companies, such as INA Plc. and JANAF Plc. in Croatia. Oil economy developed in turbulent conditions of crude oil market with constant oscillations of crude oil prices, through adjustments to the challenges of implementing new energy policies and measures with regard to climate changes, political crises, and others. Over the last years, a stagnation in crude oil production and consumption has been observed on the global level (4,2 -4,3 billion tons), with a decline being recorded in the developed countries, while higher growth rates have been noticed in China, India and the emerging Asian economies. The beginnings of crude oil (exploration and production) in Croatia dated back to the first half of the 19th century and the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (refineries) respectively. The bloom of the Croatian oil economy during the 1970s and 1980s was marked by the crude oil production hitting a record high of 3,1 mil. tons (in 1981) in comparison with the present 613 thousand tons (in 2015) and refining of an all-time high amounting to 9,2 mil. tons (in 1979) as compared to the present 3,5 mil. tons. Croatia contributes with 0,145 pro mille in the global oil production and with 0,862 pro mille in the global oil consumption. Further development and globalisation of oil sector may occur through intensifying the activities on crude oil exploration and production both in Croatia and abroad, but also along with the refineries modernization and increase of share on both domestic and foreign markets. Crude oil transport followed the development of crude oil refining on the domestic market, and especially on the foreign markets of the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe, with the highest transport of 9,7 mil. tons being achieved in 1990, as compared to 6,2 mil. tons in 2015, with the growth trend being observed owing to increase in transport for foreign refineries and their diversification of crude oil imports from the Omišalj direction. The diversification strategy directed towards storage of crude oil and petroleum products further supports the growth of oil companies and Croatian economy as well. The Croatian oil economy will still remain under the influence of volatile oil market characterised by: price volatility, global trend of reducing the petroleum products consumption, stricter regulations and quality standards, policies and measures for enhancing the security of supply, growing costs and investments together with pressures of reducing prices, growth trend of imports and competitiveness of petroleum products, diversification of supply sources and routes and other. Therefore, continuous adjustments are necessary, as well as prompt responses to challenges and development of new strategies for diversification and growth.
