Hungary to buy wind energy from Azerbaijan and hydropower from Georgia
The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled to Bucharest for a meeting on the Hungarian-Azeri-Georgian-Romanian green energy transport partnership, which will today see the establishment of a Hungarian-Romanian-Georgian-Georgian-Azeri joint venture to bring large amounts of green electricity to Central Europe. Bulgaria is expected to join the project as the fifth country in the region.
In a live commentary broadcast on Facebook, Szijjártó pointed out that the point of no return is near in the project that will allow the future import of green electricity from Azerbaijan and Georgia to Hungary and Romania.
He was referring to the Joint Venture Agreement to be signed today, and an amendment to the Green Energy Partnership Agreement will be signed shortly to bring it fully into line with European standards.
The minister said the project will be the Green Energy Corridor, which could bring in completely new sources of green energy from Georgia and Azerbaijan, thus making Hungary's electricity consumption more sustainable.
He pointed out that a new high-voltage power line is being built in Romania for this purpose, which will reach the Hungarian border by 2028-2029, allowing Hungary to have access to the new source.
He stressed that Hungary is also working on the necessary infrastructure developments. He called this meeting a milestone for the project. Following today's agreement, "all four of us (all five, including Bulgaria) are taking a big step towards energy sovereignty in order to ensure stable, sustainable and affordable energy supplies for our countries", he said. He added that a feasibility study is also planned to be completed by 2025.
Szijjártó expressed the hope that the European Union will also contribute financially to the project. He pointed out that, if completed, the 1,100-kilometre submarine pipeline to be built in scope of the project would be a record length, making it possible to import green electricity.
In another announcement made in Bucharest today, the minister stressed that during the Hungarian EU Presidency, every effort will be made to ensure that Romania gains the right to join the Schengen area, which would be beneficial for Hungary in all respects.
Cover photo: Péter Szijjártó's Facebook page
