Hungary and Gazprom agree to increase Russian gas supplies

Hungary and Russian Gazprom have agreed on a possible increase in Russian gas supplies to this EU country.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made this statement during a gas forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Russian Gazprom.

According to Szijjarto, the task and duty of the Hungarian government is to guarantee the long-term security and competitive pricing of the country’s energy supply.

He emphasized that in 2024 the country will receive a total of 6.7 billion cubic meters of Russian gas.

Szijjártó said that the Hungarian state-owned energy company MVM and Gazprom signed an agreement to maintain this practice, which he said was favorable for Hungary. For its part, Russian Gazprom announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday, which discussed the possibility of increasing Russian gas supplies to Hungary.

The Hungarian foreign minister also said that “the most important step in Hungary’s energy security in recent years has been the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which brings Russian gas to Europe via the southern route.

“Many people cannot fully appreciate its significance because, fortunately, they have not had to experience a lack of energy security,” the Hungarian foreign minister said.

He boasted that Hungary would be in a “huge mess” today if it had “succumbed to friendly and allied pressure” and “did not dare to build the Turkish Stream,” given that Russian gas transit through Ukraine will end on January 1.

“Thanks to the 20 million cubic meters delivered per day, we can buy more gas through the Turkish Stream than we did for the entire year last year,” he said.

Szijjarto stated in August that “Russian gas cannot guarantee Hungary’s energy security.”

In October, it was reported that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico plans to persuade Ukraine not to stop gas transit after 2024, when the transit agreement between Ukraine and Gazprom expires. 

Afterward, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Kyiv is not considering extending the transit agreement with Russian Gazprom after the current agreement expires in 2024.