Hungary reports sufficient gas reserves for winter

Gas reserves in Hungary are one and a half times higher than last year and amount to 1.9 billion cubic meters. m, which allows you to prepare for the next winter, reported “RIA Novosti” in the Ministry of Energy of Hungary.

“Thanks to the measures taken by the government to reduce consumption, Hungarian storage facilities of significant capacity contain twice as much gas as at the end of the previous heating season. With the preservation of special reserves acquired last year, the state gas reserve, which is one and a half times larger than before – 1.9 billion cubic meters. m – helps to properly prepare for the next winter, ”the ministry said.

In the middle of summer 2022, the Hungarian government announced state of emergency in the field of energy. The head of the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary, Gergely Guiyash, said that gas in Europe may not be enough for the heating season. The Hungarian government has also imposed a ban on the export of energy and firewood. In addition, the life of the Paks nuclear power plant was extended and preferential programs for utility bills were cut.

In the fall, Hungary banned heating the temperature in public institutions above 18 degrees. Reducing the level of heating in buildings was one of the steps taken to voluntarily reduce gas consumption in EU countries as part of the plan proposed by the European Commission.

At the end of August 2022, Hungary signed a contract with Gazprom, according to which, from September 1, the country will receive 5.8 million cubic meters. m of gas per day. Prior to this, deliveries to the country were at the level of 2.6 million cubic meters. m of gas per day. Additional volumes of gas are supplied to Hungary via Turkish Stream and Serbia.

In April, Hungary agreed to extend the agreement with Gazprom on the possible supply of Russian gas to the republic in excess of the volumes stipulated by long-term contracts, as well as on the possibility of deferring payments for gas.