Hungary's Foreign Minister Calls For New Energy Supply Options After Russian Pipeline Decision
- 3 Dec 2014 8:00 AM
Hungary will need to find new sources to ensure the security of its energy supplies for the long term, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said, in reaction to news that Russia was dropping plans for the South Stream gas pipeline project. “Russia had the right to make that decision and Hungary has acknowledged the move,” he said.
Concerning the actual options, Szijjártó mentioned gas imported from Azerbaijan, but added that further opportunities should also be identified.
During a recent visit to Hungary by Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, the option of transporting gas to Central Europe through the southern energy corridor was raised, Szijjártó said in Brussels, where he was attending a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
However, he added, in this project interconnectors play a large role, and not many of them are completed as yet.
Szijjártó said it must be ensured that the 300-billion-euro investment fund put forward by the European Commission would leave funding for projects set to improve the region’s energy security.
Asked about plans for liquefied gas transfers from Croatia, Szijjártó said Hungary strongly urged Croatia to take steps towards this option, first by building the necessary terminals, and second, by making it possible for gas to be transferred not only from Hungary to Croatia, but also the other way around.
Source www.hungarymatters.hu
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