Gazprom does not rule out supplying Hungary with gas beyond its long-term contract

Hungary’s foreign minister said after talks with Russia’s deputy prime minister that Gazprom would retain the option of supplying the country with a larger volume of natural gas this year, beyond the long-term contract. He also said that the contract to build additional units at the Paks nuclear power plant would be amended following major project delays. The report was published by Euractiv.

Hungary’s relations with Russia have long differed from those of other European countries. This difference has become even more pronounced in recent months. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine but has avoided personally criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In 2021, Hungary signed a 15-year long-term natural gas supply contract with Gazprom. Russia undertook to supply 4.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year. Of this, 3.5 bcm was to be transported via the TurkStream pipeline and 1 bcm via Austria. Hungary obtains 80-85 % of its natural gas and around 80 % of its crude oil from Russia. The gas is now transported via the TurkStream pipeline, which runs across the Black Sea to southeastern Europe, specifically to Turkey and then Bulgaria. This allows Russia to bypass Ukraine.