Hungary Vows to Ditch Russian Gas as EU Deadline Looms

Hungary's new energy and economy minister, István Kapitány, says the country will meet the European Union's deadline to end Russian gas imports. The EU has set a target to end imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by January 1, 2027, and to terminate all contracts for Russian gas imports, both via pipelines and through other routes, by November 1, 2027.

Kapitány attributes Hungary's heavy reliance on Russian gas to economic factors rather than technical limitations. The country's pipeline infrastructure allows for imports from multiple directions, but sourcing decisions have been tied to the TTF pricing system, which has made Russian gas the most economical option.

Hungary plans to secure its gas supplies through alternative sources ahead of the deadline by leveraging existing interconnectors and diversification strategies. Two main solutions are being pursued: the Neptun Deep Project in Romania and securing transportation and import capacities for future deliveries from international energy firms.