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

TPAO, SOCAR and BP to Ink Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Production Deal

Fugro Lands Deepwater Gas Field Job in Southeast Asia

China's Sinopec Laucnhes $690M Hydrogen Venture Capital Funds

Valeura Concludes Eight-Well Drilling Campaign in Gulf of Thailand

BW Opal FPSO Vessel set for Work off Australia

Fire Contained at Vietnamese Oil Platform Undergoing Decommissioning (Video)

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Up for Drilling Job Offshore Vietnam

Indonesia Grants Approval to Kuwaiti Firm for Anambas Block in Natuna Sea

Valeura Energy Greenlights Wassana Oil Field Redevelopment off Thailand

SLB Names Raman CSO, CMO

Current News

Aker Solutions, PTAS JV Hooks Brownfield Services Extension off Brunei

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

BP Expands Oil and Gas Scope in Azerbaijan with New Projects and Exploration Rights

Azeri SOCAR Plans New Agreements with Oil and Gas Majors

TPAO, SOCAR and BP to Ink Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Production Deal

Fugro Lands Deepwater Gas Field Job in Southeast Asia

OMV Exits Ghasha Gas Project off UAE with Lukoil Stake Sale

China's Sinopec Laucnhes $690M Hydrogen Venture Capital Funds

CIP, ACEN Partner Up for First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm in Philippines

Valeura Concludes Eight-Well Drilling Campaign in Gulf of Thailand

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