Gas reserves above EU expectations

Hungary achieved the 65 percent threshold by May, it said in a statement.

The reserves are holding 50 percent of domestic consumption, the third highest rate in Europe, and double the EU average, it said.

Under EU regulations, gas reserves must be filled up to 90 percent of full capacity by November 1. Last year, Hungary fulfilled that requirement by the end of summer, the statement said.

Partly thanks to significantly falling consumption, gas reserves had not dropped below two thirds of capacity in the past year, the ministry said. The security of supply is therefore “guaranteed with great certainty”, it added.

The government’s measures have ensured that Hungarian families are provided the cheapest gas and electricity in Europe. The home refurbishment programme launched on Monday also offers interest-free loans and non-refundable support to home energy upgrades, it said. The 108 billion forint (EUR 273.2m) EU funding is expected to ensure developments on some 20,000 buildings, it said.