A senior Hungarian official voiced that Hungary moved ahead with a gas purchase agreement with Azerbaijan, choosing to proceed without awaiting EU funds earmarked for infrastructure improvements in Southeast Europe. The remarks were shared on a public social media post, in which the official explained that urgent energy needs and regional diversification considerations drove the decision.
According to the statement, Azerbaijan stands out as a clear partner for Hungary, even though Southeast Europe’s existing gas pipeline network was not initially designed to handle large-scale imports. The official highlighted that Hungary sees value in broadening its energy sources and did not want to be constrained by the current European Union funding timetable.
Budapest reportedly requested EU support on this matter, but the reaction from Brussels was characterized as unsatisfactory to the Hungarian side. The official stressed that Hungary would not pause to wait for EU processes, noting that all essential agreements with Azerbaijani partners were signed. The plan envisions Hungary receiving its first sizable gas supply from Azerbaijan within the year, totaling 100 million cubic meters of natural gas by year-end.
There is also talk of a potential storage agreement that would set aside 50 million cubic meters, aimed at improving energy security and operational flexibility for Hungary in the near term.
In parallel, Russia announced government approval for a loan from Hungary intended to support the construction phase of the Paks nuclear power plant expansion, signaling continued Russian-Hungarian energy collaboration despite broader geopolitical tensions.
Meanwhile, the United States maintained its stance on Russia-related sanctions, extending measures that affect Russian entities and sectors involved in energy and finance, as part of ongoing sanctions policy. This development interacts with Hungary’s energy planning by shaping the broader international environment in which bilateral energy deals are negotiated and executed. (Attribution: Hungarian government statements, public postings, and related policy updates.)