Hungary's energy export ban unlikely to affect gas

Hungary's plans to forbid the export of certain "energy carriers" is unlikely to affect gas, comments by government officials suggest.

"The government does not restrict the export of natural gas," industry and technology state secretary Zsofia Koncz said in parliament on 8 August. Opposition party MSZP member Bertalan Toth had asked Koncz how the government was going to enforce its proposed prohibition of gas exports to neighbouring EU countries.

"In view of the European energy crisis and insufficient EU measures, the government adopted the energy emergency action plan to prepare for the winter and prevent a supply crisis," Koncz said.

Hungary declared a state of emergency in the energy sector on 13 July and announced several measures to address the emergency. One of the planned steps is to forbid the export of firewood and other energy carriers. Budapest did not specify what these energy carriers are or when the prohibition would start. It is yet to publish the decree that would clarify the details of the ban.

The European Commission objects to the plan, saying that the export ban will "only exacerbate problems" further. Prime minister Viktor Orban has suggested that the country wants to avoid sharing gas with Germany.

The prohibition would include coal, lignite, charcoal coke, briquettes, wood pellets and firewood, among others, another state secretary at the ministry, Attila Steiner, said on 26 July. Exporters would be required to apply for a ministerial permit "if the amount intended for delivery risks domestic energy supply", Steiner said. The ministry declined to respond to questions from Argus on whether gas will also be affected.

Hungary has been a consistent importer at almost all EU border points recently. It occasionally exports to Ukraine, Romania and Croatia, but there have been no flows to Romania since early June except for one day, and deliveries to Croatia and Ukraine are minimal.

By Bela Fincziczki