Budapest, Sept 10 (Kiran News): Energy-dependent Hungary has signed a 10-year natural gas supply agreement with Shell, marking its largest and longest contract with a Western partner to date. However, the Hungarian government clarified that Russian supplies will continue to remain the backbone of the country’s energy security.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, speaking at a gas conference in Milan, said the new agreement will supply Hungary with 2 billion cubic metres of gas over 10 years starting from 2026.
Hungary already has a contract with Shell running from 2021 to 2027 for the supply of 250 million cubic metres of gas annually. The new deal, Szijjártó stressed, is an addition and not a substitute for Russian imports.
“For us, diversification does not mean abandoning existing sources and routes, but adding new ones,” Szijjártó said.
Russian Supplies Remain Dominant
Hungary maintains a 15-year agreement with Russia’s Gazprom, signed in 2021, under which it receives 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas annually until 2036. In recent years, this deal has been supplemented with additional supply agreements.
Most of Hungary’s gas continues to flow through Russia’s TurkStream pipeline and its Balkan Stream extension, routed via Bulgaria and Serbia. This reliance has led Hungary to consistently oppose the European Union’s proposal to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports altogether.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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