Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has defended Hungary’s decision to halt gas export towards Ukraine. As it is already well-known FGSZ, a unit of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL suspended deliveries on 25 September for an unspecified period, citing increased need for domestic supplies starting on 26 September. Ukraine has been importing gas via Hungary since 1st of May. Ukrainian gas delivery unit Naftogaz said on Friday the cessation of delivery had been unexpected and called on its Hungarian partner to observe the contractual commitments.
On Friday morning, the prime minister told public radio Kossuth that Hungary’s natural gas stock stood at nearly 60% of the capacity of storage facilities, and added that the government would speed up the purchase of further reserves. “We will need a large amount of gas to further increase the gas we have already on stock. We will get that amount, as agreed with Alexei Miller,” Orbán said.
Yesterday Viktor Orbán visited the town of Dunaújváros and confirmed his previous statement, claiming that energy security of Hungary comes before solidarity with Ukraine.“Ukrainians can rely on us,” he said, but added that “we cannot help others if doing so would mean giving up our own energy security”. Orbán argued that in the summer Hungary was in a position to supply Ukraine with gas, but now, when Ukraine can be supplied through Slovakia, “Hungary must mind its own interests” and fill up its gas reserves.
www.hungarymatters.hu photo: magyarhirlap.hu