FSUOGM: Hungary secures increase in Russian gas supply

Hungary announced on August 13 that Russia had begun ramping up natural gas deliveries to the country following a July visit to Moscow by its foreign minister.

Trade negotiations between the two sides “led to an agreement” that has resulted in Russia’s Gazprom starting to deliver “above the already contracted quantities,” beginning on August 12.

Hungary’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “It is the duty of the Hungarian government to ensure the country’s safe supply of natural gas, and we are living up to it,” Ministry official Tamas Menczer said on social media.

Under the agreement, an extra 2.6mn cubic metres per day of gas will arrive in Hungary’s south from the TurkStream pipeline up until the end of August, Menczer said, adding that supplies for September were being negotiated. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had gone to Moscow last month to discuss obtaining an additional 700 mcm of gas.

“In light of what is known about the current European market conditions, it is clear that the acquisition of such a large amount is impossible with Russian sources,” Menczer said in his post on August 13, referring to Szijjarto’s visit.

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