Hungarian Foreign Minister Szíjjártó dismisses speculation over Bulgaria-Gazprom transit fee dispute

Budapest, March 22 - Neftegaz.RU. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has dismissed as «fake news» speculation in the media that a dispute between Russia's Gazprom and Bulgaria over fees could impact transit deliveries of gas, Budapest Business Journal has reported.

Szijjártó said in a video message posted on Facebook:

• I've spoken with my colleagues in the Bulgarian foreign ministry
• I've spoken with Gazprom officials, too
• It's fake news, lies
• Gazprom has paid Bulgaria its contractual transit fee
• There is no matter of dispute between Gazprom and Bulgaria with regard to gas transit, thus Hungary's gas supply remains secure

He said Hungary is getting 10 million m³ of Russian gas a day delivered through the pipeline that runs through Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia.
He added that it is taking delivery of a further 14 million m³ daily through a pipeline from Austria and getting 6-9 million m³ of Russian gas a day from a pipeline that runs through Slovakia.

Szijjártó said Hungary is getting a daily 19 000 - 20 000 tonnes of Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline.

Hungary expects to start to buy gas from Azerbaijan by late 2023
During an official visit to Baku in February, Minister Szijjártó said gaining access to Azeri gas via southern Europe from the end of next year would bolster Hungary’s energy security.

Hungarian oil & gas company MOL has a $1.5 billion share of an Azeri oil field ACG, the largest in the world, and the pipeline delivering the oil to the West. MOL regards Azerbaijan as key to beefing up its role as a regional player.