OMV, the Austrian energy group, said it would not be deflected from plans to forge closer links with Mol, in spite of the Hungarian company’s recourse last week to a white knight from the Czech Republic.

OMV maintained that closer co-operation with Mol would be in the best interests of both companies and expressed scepticism about the Hungarian group’s unexpected plan to link with CEZ, which includes the Czech energy group buying a 10 per cent stake in Mol.