Hungary is moving to close the final gap in its gas infrastructure by linking its transmission network with Slovenia, thereby establishing interconnections with all neighboring countries and strengthening its regional connectivity. The agreement was confirmed during a meeting between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Slovenian Energy Minister Bojan Kumer.
For Hungary, natural gas remains a cornerstone of the energy system, accounting for roughly one-third of total consumption and highlighting its energy dependence on gas. Until now, the country had established pipeline links with six of its seven neighbors, with Slovenia representing the last missing connection on both sides. The newly signed deal addresses this remaining infrastructure gap.
The project involves building a total of 115 kilometers of pipeline, including approximately 40 kilometers on the Hungarian side, along with the construction of a compressor station. Once completed, the first phase will enable an annual transport capacity of about 440 million cubic meters, with the potential to scale up to 1.7 billion cubic meters over time, significantly improving system flexibility and cross-border capacity.
The interconnection is expected to enhance Hungary’s access to alternative gas sources, including liquefied natural gas arriving via Italian terminals and routed through Slovenia, thereby increasing supply diversification and reducing reliance on single corridors.
Officials stressed that the initiative is not intended to replace existing supply routes but to complement them. Expanding the number of available transport corridors is seen as a key strategy for improving energy resilience, strengthening supply security, and reducing vulnerability to disruptions in the regional gas network.
