Minister for National Development Mr. Tamás Fellegi and Executive Director of the Paris headquartered International Energy Agency Mr. Nobuo Tanaka presented the publication entitled “A Review of Hungary’s Energy Policy - Achievements” in Budapest on 15 July 2011.

As the energy policy review was performed simultaneously with the preparatory work for the Hungarian energy strategy, the exchanges of views with the international specialists were especially useful as evidenced by the fact that the IEA recommendations are reflected in the National Energy Strategy, a long-term strategic document just approved by the Government, Minister for National Development Tamás Fellegi emphasised.

In agreement with the Government objectives, the Energy Strategy must serve the primary national interests, guarantee the security of supply, and in view of the principle of least cost into account, and enforce environment protection considerations in order to allow Hungary to contribute to the solution of global problems in proportion to its international weight and the amount of its resources.

During the nearly one-year cooperation, IEA performed a detailed scrutiny of the Hungarian energy policy in respect of the related sectors. Thus the specialists of IEA studied transport, heating, climate change policy, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy sources, and the use of gas, oil and coal separately. Last year the committee members in charge of the review liaised with government representatives as well as the Hungarian Atomic Energy Office staff, and had discussions with industry stakeholders, consumer protection organisations and the representatives of trade organisations.

The IEA welcomed and supported the concepts and actions Hungary considered necessary for improving the stability of its position in the global energy environment and indispensable for creating reliable energy supply to the country in the future.

In his address, Mr. Nobuo Tanaka said that Hungary was heading in the right direction in increasing energy security in the region by making serious efforts at the interconnection of the region’s national gas and electricity market. Mr. Tanaka spoke in recognition of the security measures Hungary adopted after the 2006 gas crisis, including the introduction of safety reserve requirements, the expansion of storage capacities, and trade in alternative resources.

According to the recommendations of the Executive Director of IEA, significant investments will be required in network infrastructure as well as the establishment of new power plants, as Hungary’s electricity consumption is expected to rise in the future. Mr. Nobuo Tanaka called the attention to the need of the earliest possible adoption of government decision on the establishment of new nuclear power plant block(s). He mentioned that according to IEA’s findings, the required projects can be realised in the most cost-efficient way only if investors are surrounded by authentic and smoothly operating regulatory institutions and a reliable, transparent regulatory environment, with the regulatory authority equipped with the adequate means secure equal treatment for all the market participants.

(Ministry of National Development , Department of Communication)