Hungary-Slovenia gas interconnector to be constructed

Representatives of Hungary and Slovenia have finalised a cooperation agreement under which “construction of a natural gas interconnector has been granted the green light”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Slovenia has so far been Hungary’s only neighbour without a link between the two countries’ gas networks, Szijjártó noted.

The new interconnector will have a capacity of 440 million cubic metres, allowing for supplies via the Italy-Slovenia-Hungary gas corridor, the minister said, adding that the new facility would mark “another crucial step towards Hungary’s energy security”.

The finalised agreement will be signed in Budapest in early October.

Hungary and Slovenia have also strengthened their cooperation in the area of nuclear energy, and voiced support for that “sustainable, cheap, and safe way for producing electricity”, Szijjártó said, adding that Slovenia, similarly to Hungary, would expand the lifespan of its nuclear plant and increase its capacity.

He said the parties at his talks in Slovenia had seen eye to eye concerning major issues around creating a regional electricity exchange, adding that a Hungarian-Serbian-Slovenian initiative could be launched early next year.

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