Cseh Valentin szerk.: „70 éve alakult a MAORT” – tanulmányok egy bányavállalat történetéből (2009)

Lajos Srágli: Hungary's Economy, Politics and MAORT

Lajos Srágli: Museum of the Hungarian Petroleum industry Hungary's Economy, Politics and IVÍAORT The Hungarian-American Oil Industries Limited Company (MAORT) was incorporated on July 15, 1938 - with one hundred percent American capital - for the working of the crude oil and natural gas fields that its predecessor, the European Gas and Electricity Company discovered, moreover for the exploration of further deposits. With its well-functioning organisation, outstanding performance, ever increasing share capital and profits, MAORT developed into one of the country's most significant companies by 1941. After 1945, however, political ideas and measures slowed down the rate of its development. Nevertheless is remained Hungary's sole substantial crude oil producing company until 1949, when it was nationalised. The part it played in the country s economy was highlighted by the great role hydrocarbons - primarily crude oil - had in World War Two, rebuilding, post-war restitution, moreover in foreign trade relationships. The events of World War One interfered with the exploitation of the results of state exploration and the first concessions, and the war's subsequent tragic outcome from Hungary's perspective ultimately made this impossible. The war caused enormous loss of life and assets alike. The Trianon peace treaty never even left a chance for the expeditious elimination of its economic consequences. The economic unity that had developed between raw material sources located around the country's edges and the processing industry, as well as consumers in her heardand was dissolved and terminated. Our industry and transportation w

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as left without raw materials and energy carriers. The Hungarian economy's crude oil demand added up to 70000 tons in 1920, which represented a mere 2% of her energy balance at the time, but the share of crude oil and its products was on the rise. It was 3.72% in 1928, and 4.62% in 1939. The growing number of motor vehicles played a defining role in increasing crude oil needs. The number of registered motor vehicles increased by more than sevenfold between 1923 and 1937—although the Great Depression that broke out in 1929 reduced it considerably on a temporary basis. The proportion of power machinery operated with diesel oil came to 3.24% at our energy generating compounds in 1935. Agriculture also demanded a significant quantity: this is where 35% of the country's crude oil demand was consumed at the end of the 1930s. Use for lighting purposes decreased at around this time; the role of crude oil in supplying energy to industrial plants only increased during the second world war period, in connection with the significant transformation of fields of use.

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'" In the situation that came about after World War One it was not just a question of the crude oil and natural gas fields that were discovered through state projects or substantial state subsidies having got stuck outside of our newly restricted borders, and Hungary's having become a crude oil - of fundamental importance from the perspective of economic potential and military strategy - importing nation vet again, but also that there were not any areas known in the 130 Ásványolaj, 1937. issue no. 18-19. 121.; Magyar Statisztikai Szemle, 1934.3., 182., 1940.2., 163.; NÉMETH 100-110., furthermore: BÖHM 1939. 159-161.