This is the gas pipeline through which Hungary currently receives Russian gas.Continue reading
A new development will increase the amount of natural gas that can be transported from Hungary to Slovakia. The work needed to be carried out for the increase did not require any investment from the two neighboring countries, writes Világgazdaság.
As we have previously reported, Hungary could help Slovakia with gas supplies after Ukraine stopped allowing Russian pipeline gas transits to Europe on January 1. Now, Világgazdaság reports that the volume of gas between the two countries could be higher than previously planned from April 1, by a third to be precise.
The upgrade could be achieved by increasing the capacity of the gas network between the two countries, with the work being carried out by Slovakia’s Eustream and Hungary’s FGSZ Ltd. According to the Hungarian company,
the non-breakaway capacity increase at the Slovak-Hungarian border crossing point (Veľké Zlievce/Balassagyarmat) did not require investment on either side.
The interconnection is an important part of the vertical corridor linking the countries in Hungary in a north-south direction (the transport was originally built in an east-west direction, from east to west).
Currently, 2.63 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year can be transported from Hungary to Slovakia with non-interruptible capacity. This amount will increase to 3.5 billion cubic meters per year from April 1.
Slovakia is in an extremely difficult position after Ukraine decided not to renew its gas transit contract with Russia. Russian gas stopped arriving to Europe through Ukraine at the beginning of this year.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the issue. Meanwhile, the Kyiv government seems to be satisfied with its decision, with the President saying earlier that “this is one of Moscow’s greatest defeats.” On his part though, Fico was not happy with the situation, claiming that Kyiv’s decision would mean an extra EUR 500 million for his country. In an open letter to EU leaders, he wrote that President Zelenskyy’s unilateral decision to cut off Russian gas transit would cost the EU tens of billions of euros, and that its “silent” acceptance was wrong and would lead to tensions and retaliatory measures.
It seems that Slovakia will be able to get all the gas it needs from Russia after all. The Prime Minister announced earlier this week that Russia will still deliver the gas it has committed to supply under the relevant contracts to Slovakia. “The Russian side has confirmed that the 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas that they have to deliver will be delivered. There is the southern gas route (TurkStream) and there are other possibilities,” said Fico.
Via Világgazdaság, Featured photo via Pixabay
