Hungary FM for N1: We should think about the integration of our gas markets

JOE KLAMAR / AFP

The Hungarian government will submit an offer to Croatian government to buy 25 percent + 1 share in LNG terminal on Croatian island of Krk. The news was announced during Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto's visit to Zagreb, where he met with Croatian Energy Minister Tomislav Coric.

Szijjarto gave an exclusive interview to N1 Television where he explained Hungary’s interest in investing in the LNG project in Croatia.

“We are interested in the success of this project which could be a game changer from our perspective, because this could open up possibility for Hungary to buy non-Russian gas from the market,” Szijjarto told N1’s Foreign Affairs Editor Ivana Dragicevic.

As Croatia and Hungary have a complicated past concerning energy cooperation, as well as unresolved issues regarding the INA-MOL case, Szijjarto thinks that the possible idea has to be thought out very thoroughly, taking care to avoid the past repeating.

“We proposed to minister Coric that we have to sign an intergovernmental agreement, and I even proposed that we think about the possible integration of our two gas markets, which would have a huge positive impact and huge benefits for both sides. With the integration of two gas markets we could eliminate tariffs on the Croatian-Hungarian border, which would make the LNG gas arriving to Krk even more competitive and cheaper immediately“, added Szijjarto.

The full interview with Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto will be broadcasted on N1 Televison on Friday, June 21, at 9 pm.