Szijjártó urges pragmatic approach to energy security
The issue of energy security requires a pragmatic approach and “common sense” instead of philosophical and ideological debates, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Baku on Thursday.
Energy security is the most critical issue on the international political stage today, but the topic is now “absolutely overpoliticised” and being turned into an ideological question, Szijjártó told the 27th Baku Energy Forum, according to a ministry statement.
The security of energy supply should be “a matter of physics and mathematics” that concerns resources, supply routes and the calculation of energy needs, Szijjártó said. Ideological statements cannot heat homes or run the economy, he added.
“The most important duty of all right now is to bring back normality, pragmatism and common sense,”
Szijjártó said.
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The minister said countries’ access to energy sources was determined by historical and geographical aspects. Changes to a country’s energy mix require investments in infrastructure, he added.
Concerning the situation in Europe, Szijjártó said
the continent was focused solely on how it can “get rid of Russian sources of energy”, but there was “no practical dialogue on how to replace it”.
He said the Hungarian government would not agree to any sanctions on Russian natural gas imports, as some 85 percent of the gas consumed in Hungary comes from Russia.
Hungary is committed to diversifying its energy sources, for instance by buying gas sourced from a field in the Caspian Sea, the minister said, adding, however, that this required an increase in production and expanding the capacity of the Trans-Anatolian pipeline.
Hungary will be able to rely on gas delivered from Azerbaijan in the future, but this will only be realistic once supply routes between the Caspian region and Europe are expanded,
Szijjártó said. This requires European Union resources, commitment and specific programmes, he added.
The minister said that instead of putting pressure on countries dependent on Russian energy to cut off those supplies, the EU should focus on finding ways to incorporate new sources into its energy mix.
Szijjártó said that words and actions on energy diversification were not lining up, arguing that the Nabucco and South Stream pipeline projects had been dropped and the extraction of the Black Sea gas field was not moving forward.
Hungary will not give up its existing energy supply system if that means higher energy prices,
he said, adding that energy prices had a significant impact on people’s living conditions and economic competitiveness.
Szijjártó held talks with the Azeri, Bulgarian, Kazakh and Romanian energy ministers, as well as the first vice president of Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company on the sidelines of the forum.
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Source: MTI
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4 Comments
Hungary has been warned time and time again for it’s overreliance (or dependence) on cheap Russian oil, gas and nuclear energy.
Example: in 2017, certain EU Members “objected to increasing Hungarian dependence on Russian nuclear energy at the same time the bloc is trying to reduce Central and Eastern Europe’s reliance on Russian gas. They also pointed out that the EU had adopted a number of sanctions targeting Russia.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungarys-russian-built-nuclear-plant-powered-by-politics-in-brussels/
The Politicians did not sleepwalk into this energy security conundrum – it was deliberate. There never was an energy security Plan B. Our Politicians traded traded our independence and values for cheap gas, oil and nuclear power.
Denmark, Holland, Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania have been cut off of Russian gas supply. So far there is no concrete plans to substitute the supply from other sources. Russia still has the ability to cut off supply to Germany and other western countries. It is no use looking to the US under the Biden Administration. There are also a lack of ships to transport liquid gas. The EU’s shortsighted policies will probably make it impossible for European households to heat their house. It will also slow down the economy of Western Europe.
The only bright light in Western Europe is Prime Minister Orban, who ensured supply at affordable price for his nation.
@mariavontheresa – a Sovereign and Dependent Hungary it is, then!
Interestingly, neither Denmark, Holland, Poland, Bulgaria or Lithuania appear to be complaining about being cut off from Russian gas. They deal with it. Interesting (but long) read https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/02/germany-dependence-russian-energy-gas-oil-nord-stream?curator=biztoc.com – with some really scary observations that could also apply to us (hats off: the Kremlin plays GREAT 3D chess).
There comes a point where geopolitical policy mistakes should be remedied and countries should stand their ground when it comes to values. Mr. Orbán and his clique LOVES the “Values” discussions and “Soros Lapdogs” references. Pot calling the kettle black situation, not seeing the Values (“you cannot serve both God and mammon”) for Mr. Putin Lapdogs (but all for the good of the Nation, of course)!
Dear Daniel, the unfortunate effect of the Russian/Ukrainian is not yet apparent. When food shortages force prices to sharply rise or when people will not be able to afford the heating cost in the winter, then reality will hit. Hope the above mentioned countries’ governments are planning to solve these problems before they occur.