Croatia energy security measures

In late July 2026 the Croatian government instructed state‑owned utility HEP to buy at least 1.1 TWh of natural gas to raise the Okoli underground storage from roughly 50 % to the 80 % target needed for the 2026‑27 heating season. The emergency purchase shifted price and timing risk from private traders to the state utility.

Within days Croatia’s gas transmission operator Plinacro agreed with Hungary’s FGSZ to double the capacity of the Drávaszerdahely‑Alsómiholjác border crossing, aiming to bolster regional gas security and accommodate larger LNG imports. At the same time, the electricity system operator HOPS approved a 400 kV transmission plan for Pantheon Atlas’s 1 GW AI data‑centre campus, which includes a 500 MW solar plant, an 8 GWh battery and extensive new lines, signalling a push toward renewable integration alongside the gas‑security actions.

On 3 August 2026 HOPS reported that electricity consumption reached 61.8 MWh daily, with a peak of 3.284 GWh, about 3 % above the previous week, driven by hot weather and cooling demand. Despite the surge, the transmission network operated at normal high capacity and the operator did not anticipate any supply problems, underscoring the resilience of Croatia’s energy system amid the recent security measures.