Hungary to introduce heating cap for public buildings

BUDAPEST, Hungary

Hungary has introduced a heating cap for public buildings in the wake of an expected energy crisis in Europe.

In a press briefing on Thursday in Budapest, Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Victor Orban's chief of staff, said: “In all public institutions heating restrictions will be introduced, according to which it cannot be warmer than 18 C in offices.”

By doing so, the government expects to reduce the country’s natural gas consumption by 25%, he added.

Gulyas added that the country currently has enough fuel reserves for 80 days.

Claiming that the economic sanctions on Russia have so far failed to yield the intended result, Gulyas noted Hungary also aims to boost brown-coal production.

Hungary, an EU member which shares a border with Ukraine, has repeatedly said it is unwilling to support the bloc's sanctions on Russian gas imports saying it will undermine its economy.

In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated a plan to introduce a price cap on Russian gas imports.

Russia has threatened to block all gas supplies to the EU if such a plan goes ahead.

*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara