Hungary has signed a historic natural gas agreement with energy giant Shell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced in Milan on Tuesday. Under the deal, Hungary will purchase a total of two billion cubic metres of natural gas over ten years starting in 2026—the largest and longest-term contract the country has ever concluded with a Western supplier.
‘This strengthens energy supply security, as it represents a new source, a new contract, and a new route. This is genuine diversification, which does not replace existing sources but adds new ones to them,’ the minister underlined.
Szijjártó stressed that natural gas remains critically important for Hungary, accounting for one-third of the national energy mix. He emphasized that secure supply is a matter of geography and infrastructure, not ideology: ‘The more sources and the more pipelines are available, the better.’
Until now, Hungary’s energy security has rested primarily on long-term agreements with Eastern suppliers, but Szijjártó said that ‘this very stable foundation will be further reinforced by a long-term agreement with a Western partner.’
Shell, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its presence in Hungary this year, currently operates around 200 fuel stations and 100 electric charging points nationwide. According to Szijjártó, the company has ‘always proved a reliable partner’ over the past century, with relations built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to sustainable growth.
‘We are ready to further expand our strategic cooperation with Shell. We hope this contract will serve as a flagship, to be followed in future by smaller and perhaps even larger ships,’ the minister concluded.
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