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As Ukraine gas transit halt looms, Hungary at ease thanks to TurkStream pipeline

-Hungary has imported a record of more than 20M cubic meters of gas daily via the TurkStream pipeline, the country's foreign affairs and trade minister tells Anadolu

Even as concerns in Europe rise due to the impending halt in the transit of natural gas through Ukraine, Hungary is confident it will remain unscathed thanks to the TurkStream pipeline, the country's foreign affairs and trade minister has said.

While the agreement on the natural gas transit through Ukraine is set to expire with the new year, potentially straining supplies to European countries dependent on Russian energy, Peter Szijjarto struck a reassuring tone in his interview with Anadolu:

鈥淲hen it comes to the cutting of the transit through Ukraine, it doesn鈥檛 have any kind of impact on us,鈥� Szijjarto said, speaking on the sidelines of the Istanbul Energy Forum, organized by Anadolu under the auspices of T眉rkiye鈥檚 Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

He highlighted the international cooperation that went into constructing the pipeline, which runs via the Black Sea from Russia to T眉rkiye, from where it can connect to other routes to Europe.

鈥淭ogether with T眉rkiye, Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia, we have built the TurkStream pipeline,鈥� he explained, adding that Hungary currently imports a record of over 20 million cubic meters of natural gas daily. 鈥淭his year, more than 6.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) have arrived in Hungary through the TurkStream,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is more than last year in its entirety.鈥�

Thanks to this infrastructure, Hungary sees no need for alternative routes, Szijjarto emphasized. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need it because of the TurkStream.鈥�

- Milestones in T眉rkiye-Hungary energy cooperation

Describing relations with T眉rkiye as 鈥渟trategic,鈥� Szijjarto highlighted the strong personal ties between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He noted key achievements in bilateral ties this year, including Hungary becoming the first non-neighboring country to import natural gas from T眉rkiye, with an initial purchase of 250 million cubic meters.

Hungary鈥檚 gas trading company is now working with T眉rkiye鈥檚 Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) to finalize a new contract for future deliveries. Szijjarto also pointed to plans for deeper collaboration between the two sides鈥� oil companies.

Cooperation also extends into nuclear energy, he said, with both countries sharing similar goals, investing in capacity expansion and utilizing technology provided by Rosatom. 鈥淲e look at the expertise of each other, we share practices and experiences, and we help to train the nuclear engineers and experts of each other,鈥� he said.

Szijjarto underscored the importance of concluding the gas delivery agreement and forming a strategic partnership between Hungary鈥檚 oil company MOL and T眉rkiye鈥檚 TPAO so they can participate in joint projects. 鈥淭hese are the most important goals we would like to reach next year,鈥� he added.

- Risk of escalation in Russia-Ukraine War

On the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Szijjarto expressed concern over its impact on Hungary, which borders Ukraine.

He criticized measures by the current US administration under President Joe Biden, such as its approval of Kyiv using long-range missiles against targets in Russia and sanctions targeting Gazprombank.

He warned that such actions could escalate the war and complicate peace efforts for incoming administrations.

鈥淭his is a very clear signal that in the last days of this administration, they do not really care about any kind of consequences,鈥� said Szijjarto.

By Firdevs Yuksel and Handan Kazanci

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr