DMEA: Hungary clears a path for Qatari LNG deal

Hungary has signed a political agreement clearing the way for the start of talks between energy group MVM and QatarEnergy on the purchase of Qatari natural gas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in Doha on December 14.

Qatar is the world’s second-biggest exporter of LNG and is upgrading production and delivery capacities, Szijjarto said, adding that Hungary could “realistically” start taking deliveries of Qatari gas within three years if Croatia scales up capacity of its LNG terminal on the Adriatic coast. He also highlighted the role of the European Union, saying infrastructure developments will be needed in order to bring large volumes of natural gas to Hungary via the southern and south-eastern European LNG terminals.

If Croatia expands the capacity of the Krk LNG terminal as it has promised, there will be a realistic possibility for Hungary to receive gas from Qatar within about three years, according to Hungary’s top diplomat.