WIEE - A PARTNER FOR NATURAL GAS IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

Hungarian natural gas market

Natural gas is the most important primary fuel in the Hungarian energy mix. The country currently consumes around nine billion cubic meters of natural gas. The heating sector accounts for the majority of this, followed by electricity generation and industry.

Domestic gas production currently contributes around 20 percent of all gas consumed. The rest is provided through imports. Hungary imports most of its natural gas from Russia, with supplies running via Ukraine.  Thanks to the pipeline connection to Austria, Hungary has a direct link to the gas hub in Baumgarten and imports a significant part of the consumption from there. Physically the most of this volume is also of Russian origin. Hungary also has pipeline connections to Croatia, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia and serves as a transit country for other Western Balkan states.

Hungary has highly diversified supply routes and a very large storage capacity of over six billion cubic meters. This plays a significant role in the supply security of the country and the region. In recent years, the Hungarian state has increased its control over the natural gas sector by buying back and taking over universal suppliers and distribution companies.