Hungary and Romania have increased the capacity of the gas pipeline between the two countries to 2.7 billion cubic meters per year, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced during a visit to Bucharest.
„Two weeks ago, we increased the capacity of the gas pipeline connecting our pipeline systems to 2.7 billion cubic meters. “We need to increase the volume of gas in both directions in order to more effectively guarantee our energy security”, the foreign minister wrote on Facebook.
According to Hungarian data, 1.8 billion cubic meters of gas were pumped through the interconnector between Hungary and Romania in 2024. In line with its policy of diversifying routes and sources of energy supplies, Hungary is seeking to expand its cooperation with other countries, including Romania. The government says it is forced to look for alternative options to supply its businesses and population with fuel and industrial raw materials under Western sanctions against Russia.
Hungary relies on gas supplies from the large Neptune Deep field on the Romanian Black Sea shelf, which could start commercial production in 2027. Companies from both countries have begun talks on the subject.
Romanian authorities have said that expanding gas production in Romania should help Central and Eastern European countries reduce their dependence on Russia for energy.
Hungary continues to receive most of its gas under long-term contracts with Gazprom through the “Turkish Stream“ pipeline and its branches through Bulgaria and Serbia. In 2024, 8.5 billion cubic meters of gas entered the country via this route. As Szijjarto announced, approximately the same volume is expected in 2025.