Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has criticized planned sanctions on the Russian nuclear energy sector, saying Hungary was already paying the price of war when it came to energy supply.
The foreign minister said Hungary can buy oil either via Croatia or Ukraine, and transit fees have increased significantly in both directions. “And now they want to force through measures that would put Hungary in a difficult situation not just in terms of … energy prices, but also in terms of supply security,” he warned. Hungary needs 2,400MW of new energy sources by the beginning of the next decade, which can only be produced in an eco-friendly way with nuclear reactors, he said. If the upgrade of the Paks nuclear plant is rendered untenable, then Hungary will not be able to produce the electricity needed for households and for the economy to function for the beginning of the next decade, Minister Szijjártó said. He noted that the contract for the expansion of the Paks plant had been signed over nine years ago and approved by Brussels. Meanwhile, Minister Szijjártó said another Hungarian citizen had been rescued from Sudan amid the civil war there. The individual and their spouse have safely made it to Ethiopia where they are receiving assistance from the Hungarian embassy staff, he said. He added that because phone and internet services in Khartoum are currently down, the government has been unable to make contact with the five other Hungarians in the Sudanese capital. The ministry will update the public on any developments in the matter, he said.