Moscow Could Lose Another Major Gas Buyer In Europe
- 18.09.2026, 15:36
Hungary is ready to drastically reduce its energy dependence on Russia.
Hungary may comply with the European Union’s demand and completely phase out Russian gas within a year. This was reported by István Kapitány, Hungary’s Minister of Energy, as cited by Bloomberg.
“If the situation continues as it is now, gas supplies to Hungary can and will be secured from other sources,” Kapitány said.
He added that Budapest has enough gas pipelines to purchase gas from other sources at competitive prices.
The Hungarian government is also reviewing the Russian project to expand the country’s only nuclear power plant and is negotiating with suppliers to diversify crude oil supplies in order to reduce dependence on Russia. By the end of the year, the Hungarians must decide whether the power plant expansion is necessary. Kapitan noted that modern technologies make it possible to extend the operational life of the four existing nuclear power plant units.
“The review is still ongoing. We will complete it by the end of the year, and then we will decide whether Hungary needs additional nuclear power units in its energy mix,” said the head of the energy ministry.
Budapest is also seeking to reduce electricity imports. Plans include increasing energy storage capacity and opening the country to large-scale investments in wind energy.
This marks a radical departure from the policy pursued by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. During his 16 years in office, he increased Hungary’s energy dependence on Russia, even as other EU countries began phasing out Russian energy resources due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Orbán claimed at the time that Hungary had no other options for ensuring energy security. At the same time, his critics argued that such a policy turned Budapest into a tool of the Kremlin and led to the country’s “isolation.”
It should be noted that the country’s dependence on energy imports has long been one of Hungary’s key economic vulnerabilities, as global fluctuations in oil and gas prices have had a significant impact on the local currency.