On Thursday, Minister of State for Energy Affairs András Aradszki told public television channel M1 that the spread of liquefied natural gas (LNG) could increase Europe’s security of energy supply.
Commenting on the process designed to set up an energy union to facilitate the creation of an EU-level energy market, the State Secretary at the Ministry of National Development responsible for energy affairs told news channel M1 that Hungary agrees with the need to strengthen regional cooperation on energy security and energy supply.
At the Central European Gas Congress in Bratislava on 26 April 2016, Secretary of State for Energy Affairs András Aradszki said that the strengthening of the security of natural gas supply for consumers must be facilitated by cross-border energy infrastructure development and access to new sources for the European market.
In Budapest on Sunday, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of National Development said that a monument to victims of forced labour has been erected in a fitting location: László Teleki Square, in Budapest’s Józsefváros District.
In Berlin on Tuesday András Aradszki, Secretary of State for Energy Affairs at the Ministry of National Development, said that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany may result in Hungary having to procure this energy source at a price higher than it does now.
On 18 March 2016, on behalf of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, the Hungarian Ministry of Transport submitted to the European Commission a letter of intent for the establishment of the new “Amber” rail freight corridor 11. This is intended to facilitate cross-border rail freight between the four countries. The corridor links the Slovenian seaport of Koper and the Polish dry port in Małaszewicze on the Belarusian border, with important industrial centres and intermodal terminals in Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Poland; it also includes a connection to the border with Serbia.
Hungary has received the Atoms for Peace Award for its measures taken for the total elimination of highly enriched uranium stocks. The prestigious international recognition was received by Minister for National Development Miklós Seszták at the Nuclear Industry Summit (NIS) in Washington, D.C. on 31 March 2016.
Nuclear power is the cornerstone of secure energy supply in Hungary today, and this will remain so in the long run, declared Miklós Seszták, Minister for National Development, after visiting the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on 21 March 2016. According to the Minister, the nuclear power plant, which operates increasingly efficiently due to continuous development, is also essential for maintaining the results of utility rate cuts.
The implementation of more than 300 kilometres of priority road development has reached another important milestone. In Budapest on 2 March 2016, Minister for National Development Miklós Seszták signed a grant agreement with a total value of HUF 667 billion.
The Minister of National Development has signed contracts for a total of eight areas with the four companies which were awarded permits following the tender invitations for hydrocarbon extraction concessions published in April 2015.