Russia, Hungary talk energy cooperation

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed Russian oil transport to Hungary on Thursday.

The two leaders held a joint news conference Thursday evening in Budapest following discussion on bilateral relations and finding new opportunities on economic cooperation.

Following a question on energy talks between the two countries, Orban said: "It is important for us to get Russian oil and gas to Hungary. This is what we agreed upon between ourselves, and the president guaranteed it to us."

Putin added that Russian gas could be moved to Hungary "via Turkish Stream" in comments published by the Kremlin.

"We discussed the South Stream, a project, which, unfortunately, no longer exists," said Putin. "We covered the Nord Stream as well. Regarding Nord Stream-2, there is, indeed, the technical capability for Hungary to receive Russian gas via Nord Stream-2. This can be done via Slovakia or Austria -- this is quite a feasible project. Russian gas can also be moved via the Turkish Stream. There are other options as well."

Turkish Stream -- announced by Putin during a December 2014 visit to Turkey -- will carry gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkish Thrace. One pipeline, with 15.75 billion cubic meters of capacity, is expected to supply the Turkish market, while a second line would carry gas to Europe.

Turkey, which is the second biggest consumer of Russian gas after Germany, imports around 30 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia annually via two pipelines -- the Blue Stream, which passes under the eastern Black Sea, and the Western Line through the Balkans.