14.12.2022, Budapest.
Hungary and Qatar have agreed that their state-owned energy companies will begin talks on Hungary’s purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arab state, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said in a video posted on Facebook (an organization banned in Russia) on December 14.
“It is in Hungary’s interest to involve new sources for gas supplies,” Szijjártó said after talks in Doha.
A member of the European Union, Hungary depends heavily on Russian gas and oil, and rising energy prices have contributed to this year’s budget deficit.
Under the agreement, Hungarian energy group MVM will start talks with QatarEnergy on the possibility of supplying LNG to Hungary within three years, Szijjártó said.
Qatar is already among the world’s leading LNG exporters. Several European states, faced with soaring energy prices and limited fuel supplies, are negotiating with the Gulf Arab state to reduce their dependence on Russian energy supplies.
Szijjártó added that in order for Hungary to buy natural gas from Qatar, the European Union would need to expand the capacity of its southern LNG terminals.
“If Croatia expands its LNG terminal capacity as promised … then it is realistic that gas from Qatar will play a role in Hungary’s energy supply within three years,” he said.
According to the 15-year agreement, signed last year, Hungary currently receives 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year via Bulgaria and Serbia under the long-term agreement with Russia.
