Hungary and Serbia to construct natural gas pipeline

Hungary and Serbia are set to construct a natural gas pipeline traversing the border between of the two countries.

“Our gas supply is a national security and national strategic issue,” said Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade Péter Szijjártó after signing an agreement with Serbia’s minister of mining and energy Aleksandar Antić. “No transit agreement for next year has yet been concluded between Russia and Ukraine. In addition, Hungary’s allies are late with making decisions that would facilitate Hungary being able to purchase gas from other sources.”

Construction will commence next summer, and will be complete by the end of 2021, Mr Szijjártó explained.

Hungary’s gas supply is currently only guaranteed up to and including 2020. The country purchases four billion cubic metres of gas from Russia for public utility purposes, transported via Ukraine.