Hungary and Qatar has signed an agreement under which the energy companies of the two countries can begin negotiations on the supply of liquefied natural gas to Hungary in about three years, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said.
“Today we have concluded a political agreement, according to which Qatar is ready to start negotiations between QatarEnergy and MVM enterprises from the Hungarian side, so that we in Hungary could count on part of Qatar’s increased LNG capacity to guarantee the security of gas supply,” Szijjarto said after talks with Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abderrahman Al Thani.
“If Croatia, in accordance with its promise, expands the capacity of its LNG terminal, of which Hungary is now the main consumer, then within about three years there will be a real possibility that Qatari gas will receive a share in the Hungarian energy supply,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister said.
He stressed that the only solution to the energy crisis in Europe is the diversification of sources and an increase in gas and oil on the European market, and not the introduction of price ceilings for oil and gas.
According to Szijjarto, from the point of view of energy security and economy, it is important for the European Union to strengthen relations with the countries of the Persian Gulf, but they should be based on mutual respect.
“If we approach the Qataris with an educational, condescending, moralizing manner, cooperation based on mutual benefit will not come out of this,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister added.
