Together for 1.5
Domestically produced electricity will not enhance the rhetorically emphasised energy sovereignty if production needs imported gas and uranium.
– Domestically produced electricity will not enhance the rhetorically emphasised energy sovereignty if production needs imported gas and uranium.
– Dependence on foreign gas and uranium can cause vulnerability, strong price fluctuations, or even energy scarcity.
– Public financial resources and the upcoming Hungarian NECP should enhance renewable energy use and a reliable, multilateral supply system.
The Hungarian (2019) NECP emphasises the “strengthening of energy independence” and “energy sovereignty” goals. It also states that “Serious dependence on energy import may carry serious risks related to the security of supply and prices.”
In the last years Hungarian policy leans towards energy-intensive reindustrialization that has far higher-level energy needs.
We are witnessing a return of gas-fired power plants and nuclear power stations. Hungary has a certain amount of gas resources, but far from the amount that is needed for feeding the planned power plants. Uranium mining ended in Hungary in 1996, due to uneconomic operations. Both of these energy production methods therefore require significant imports.
The current priority – rhetorically – is the domestic production of electricity, and public financial resources are planned to be directed for that. At the same time, it should be considered what kind of fuel the electricity production is based on. It would not be beneficial if dependence on foreign gas and uranium would cause a vulnerable situation, possibly strong price fluctuations, or even energy shortages.