Foreign Minister: Hungary will buy 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Engie in France

Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Hungary will buy 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas between 2028-2038 from the French energy company Engie.

Szijjarto stated that Engie will sell 400 million cubic meters (mcm), of gas, to Hungary each year under the "longest LNG contract in Hungary’s history".

Hungary consumes approximately 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year. It is still Europe's largest buyer of Russian Gas.

In the beginning of this year, Slovakia, Hungary, and other European countries rejected plans by the European Commission to phase out Russian energy and gas imports. This aggravated the rift between Brussels and Moscow over their relations.

Szijjarto stated that the agreement would be a major pillar in the energy security of Hungary.

Shell signed a contract with Hungary last month, stating that they would sell 200 million cubic meters of natural gas per year to MVM CEEnergy starting in January 2026.

Hungary increased its purchases of Russian Gazprom in the last year. It has been receiving Russian Gas from the south through Bulgaria and Serbia via the Turkstream pipeline.

Szijjarto stated earlier this month, Hungary imported 5 billion cubic meters of gas via Turkstream at the end of August. This means that this year's imports of gas via Turkstream may reach a record. (Reporting and editing by Emelia Sithole Matarise; Anita Komuves)

(source: Reuters)