Hungary, Serbia deepen energy cooperation with new oil pipeline push

Hungary and Serbia have agreed to fast-track the construction of a joint oil pipeline linking the two countries, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on September 1 after talks with Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović.

“The 190-kilometre Hungarian section of the pipeline is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027,” Caliber.Az quotes Szijjártó as saying on X.

He added that the project would strengthen regional energy security.

Szijjártó also highlighted record gas flows from Serbia into Hungary, underscoring the growing importance of the TurkStream route.

“Gas deliveries through Serbia have now reached a record 21 million cubic meters per day. Never before has so much gas arrived in Hungary via TurkStream in a year,” he said.

The minister argued that repeated attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including pipelines serving Hungary and Slovakia, underscored the need for deeper cooperation with Serbia.

“Ukraine has repeatedly attacked the oil pipeline leading to Hungary and Slovakia, and it also shut down a gas pipeline vital for Central Europe’s supply. These Ukrainian steps increase the importance of Hungarian–Serbian energy cooperation,” Szijjártó said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev