Hungary faces energy security risks from Russian gas dependence

Expert Attila Holoda has warned that Russian gas remains a potent political weapon, noting that threats to halt supplies highlight Hungary's energy vulnerability. While Holoda suggests that threats from certain Russian political figures may be bluffs intended to avoid revenue loss, he emphasizes that energy dependence constitutes a significant national security risk rather than a purely economic issue.

Since the 2022 invasion, pipeline gas deliveries from Russia to Europe have dropped from approximately 450–500 million cubic meters per day in mid-2021 to roughly 48–50 million cubic meters. Although Russia continues to sell liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European nations, this does not replace the previous pipeline volumes. The discussion also touched upon the Paks II nuclear project, noting that the government's support for the investment in this year's supplementary budget was increased from 95 billion forints to 206.6 billion forints.