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Hungary "signals" its intention to buy more gas from Romania to reduce dependence on Russia
The president of Hungary, Novak Katalin, said on Wednesday, following a meeting with the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, that Hungary "signals" its intention to buy more gas from Romania to reduce dependence on Russia and argued that exploitation projects such as Black Sea's Neptun Deep should be financially supported by the European Union.
Asked by journalists if Hungary is negotiating with Romania to buy gas from Neptun Deep, the Hungarian president said that this Romanian project "is a new possibility that is opening up" for her country to diversify its sources of supply.
"I'm glad that this investment has started. I think it would be good if this investment was also helped by European funds to make it happen. I signal Hungary's intention to buy even more gas, because in this way we could further diversify current energy resources and we would reduce our dependence on Russia. We are in discussions on this issue," said Novak Katalin.
President Klaus Iohannis declared that "Romania can become a partner and a relevant supplier of energy for Hungary".
"Romania has natural gas resources on land, but lately important resources have also been found in the area of territorial waters, the coastal area. An investment there is planned by an association between two companies, one European and one Romanian. I do not want to nominate them, but progress is being made and we expect that in the fairly near future this resource can be exploited. In this case, it is very clear that Romania can become a relevant partner and supplier of energy for Hungary, and I think it would be a very good thing, because Hungary and Romania and all of Europe want to disconnect from Russian resources. We want to have other sources of energy. Of course, in detail these matters are resolved on a commercial basis, it is the companies that will exploit, the shipping companies, the importing companies, but for these things to work very well, we need a good interconnection between our economies and, specifically, a good physical interconnection, and I understood that there is a desire on both sides to take determined steps in this direction. So, here is a very good opportunity for Romania and Hungary to become strategic partners in the field of energy as well," declared Iohannis.