U.S. Calls on Hungary and Neighbors to Shun Russian Gas Pipelines

By Krisztina Than
Tuesday, November 13, 2018

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry called on Hungary and its neighbours to reject Russian gas pipelines which Washington says are being used to cement Moscow's grip on central and eastern Europe.

Energy diversification would be crucial for the region, as Russia has used energy as a weapon in the past, he said.

"Russia is using a pipeline project Nord stream 2 and a multi-line Turkish stream to try to solidify its control over the security and the stability of Central and eastern Europe," Perry added during a visit to Budapest.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Turkish stream, a pipeline under construction from Russia to Turkey, was good news for Hungary, as with annual capacity of 5 to 6 billion cubic meters one of it branches would bring gas to Hungary's southern border via a new route.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to encourage the purchase of gas from the United States or other suppliers rather than increasing purchases from Russia.

"(The) United States strongly opposes these projects and we urge Hungary and its neighbours to join us in rejecting them."

Hungary largely depends on Russia for its natural gas supplies, which now mostly come via a pipeline via Ukraine. Russia is also building a nuclear plant in Hungary.

The government would be willing to buy gas from Croatia, which is building a liquefied natural gas terminal, and from Romania, Szijjarto said.

Szijjarto said that he had asked for U.S. help to support Hungary's diversification. A pipeline connection is not yet capable of carrying imported gas from the Black Sea via Romania. 

(Reuters, Reporting by Krisztina Than; editing by David Evans and Alexander Smith)

Categories: Shale Oil & Gas Pipelines Russia Government

Related Stories

Thailand's PTT to Buy LNG from Glenfarne's Alaska LNG Project

Woodside and Jera Agree LNG Cargoes Supply for Japan’s Winter Period

Yinson Production, “K” LINE Target Europe's CCS with FSIU and LCO2 Solutions

Woodside Agrees Long-Term LNG Supply with Petronas Unit

Yinson Production Closes $1B Investment to Drive Further Growth

Wood JV Gets EPC Job for Shell off Brunei

Fugro Expands Geotechnical Testing Capabilities in Indonesia

UK Firm Secures Exploration Extension for Two Blocks off Vietnam

CDWE Wraps Up Pin Pile Installation Job for Taiwanese Offshore Wind Farm

Japan and South Korea Look to Partner Up with US for Alaska Pipeline

Current News

Japan Protests China’s New Oil and Gas Construction Activities in East China Sea

CNOOC Signs Hydrocarbons Exploration and Production Deal with Kazakhstan

Thailand's PTT to Buy LNG from Glenfarne's Alaska LNG Project

Woodside and Jera Agree LNG Cargoes Supply for Japan’s Winter Period

Petronas Expands Suriname Portfolio with Deepwater Block Acquisition

Japanese Oil and Gas Firm Enters Two Blocks off Malaysia

Yinson Production, “K” LINE Target Europe's CCS with FSIU and LCO2 Solutions

Woodside Agrees Long-Term LNG Supply with Petronas Unit

MODEC and Terra Drone Renew FPSO Drone Inspection Partnership

Yinson Production Closes $1B Investment to Drive Further Growth

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com