Hungary’s gas supply for 2020 is guaranteed even if Russia and Ukraine fail to reach a new agreement on gas supplies, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said at a press conference held together with Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining in Tapolca on Wednesday.

Péter Szijjártó highlighted that Hungarian gas storage facilities are currently 85 per cent full, but by autumn this percentage will increase to 100 per cent. One half of the quantity of gas necessary for next year will be transported to Hungary already this year, meaning that by the end of September 2 billion cubic metres of gas will have arrived in the country, the politician said.

Pursuant to the agreement concluded with Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Aleksandar Antic, Serbia’s gas supply via Hungary, too, will be guaranteed next year. The transport route via Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia will not be operational with full capacity before 2021 due to legal proceedings under way in Bulgaria; however, thereafter Hungary could procure as much as 10 billion cubic metres of gas annually from that source, the Minister added.

In answer to a question, Mr Szijjártó said he regards the accession of the Western Balkans region and Serbia in particular as a European interest. Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Aleksandar Antic described the maintenance of a good partnership with Hungary as important. Both governments treat gas supply as a priority, and in this area Hungary’s support means a great deal to Serbia, he stressed. Regarding Serbia’s EU accession, he said Serbia will make every effort to become a member of the European Union within the foreseeable future.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)