BUDAPEST, APRIL 9Refusal from natural gas and LNG would be economic suicide; Hungary is not going to exclude blue fuel from its energy balance for many years, said the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Peter Szijjártó.
“We believe that natural gas will remain part of our energy mix for many years, and we continue to reject aggressive, artificially forced exclusion of it from the energy mix. We consider this economic suicide and do not want to further jeopardize the competitiveness of the EU economy,” — Szijjártó said at a press conference in Budapest on LNG. 
According to him, Hungary is not going to give up gas contracts with reliable suppliers; it recently began purchasing LNG from Turkey, intends to extend the contract with the American company for the purchase of LNG Shell, which expires in 2027, buys gas from Azerbaijan and intends, if possible, to conclude an agreement with Romania after how it will expand LNG exports.
The head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry criticized the actions of the European Commission, which does not subsidize the development of energy infrastructure in southeastern Europe, citing the fact that in 15 years natural gas will no longer be in the energy balance.
“But even if so, there are still 15 years left, how can we supply supplies during them?” — he asked a rhetorical question, emphasizing that the Hungarian government will not interfere with politics and ideology in energy supply issues.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that Budapest is working to diversify gas supplies, but in the short term it will not be possible to replace Russian energy resources. In addition to increasing imports of Azerbaijani gas, Hungary is interested in increasing LNG supplies to the country through the terminal in Croatian Krk and developing a gas field in Romania. In addition, according to Szijjarto, Budapest, as part of the diversification of supplies, is considering the possibility of importing oil from Ecuador in case the overland transit of Russian oil through Ukraine becomes impossible.
Earlier, Szijjártó noted that during his visit to Doha, an agreement was concluded according to which energy companies in Hungary and Qatar could begin negotiations on LNG supplies to Hungary in approximately three years. According to him, negotiations are also underway with Oman at the level of specialists and enterprises on the possible start of imports of oil and natural gas. The minister emphasized that agreements with the Gulf countries on the supply of oil and gas to Hungary do not mean a refusal of contracts with Russia, but are aimed at diversification.
