Hungary’s natural gas transmission system operator FGSZ and Romania’s transmission operator Transgaz have agreed to expand the technical capacity of the Csanadpalota interconnection point, which links the two national gas networks. The adjustment will take effect on 1 April 2026, marking another step in strengthening cross-border gas cooperation in the region.
Following the upgrade, the maximum hourly transport capacity of the pipeline will increase slightly in both directions, rising from 310,000 cubic meters per hour to 320,000 cubic meters per hour. In energy terms, the connection will be capable of transporting roughly 3.5 million kWh per hour from Romania to Hungary and around 3.47 million kWh per hour in the opposite direction.
Transmission system operators view the enhancement as an important contribution to the Vertical Corridor initiative, a broader regional project designed to improve the flow of alternative natural gas supplies from southern sources toward markets in Central and Eastern Europe.
The newly created capacity will soon be offered to market participants. According to the operators, the additional volumes will first be made available as a monthly product through an auction scheduled for 16 March 2026. Afterward, further capacity allocations will follow the standard European gas transmission auction calendar.
FGSZ described the upgrade as a modest but meaningful improvement in regional gas infrastructure, emphasizing that such developments help make the energy system more flexible, diversified and resilient.
Additional upgrades are also expected in the coming years, particularly on the Romanian side of the border. These improvements could lead to further increases in transfer capacity at the cross-border interconnection between the two countries.
