Gabor Orban: Azerbaijan has potential to export LNG to Europe

Azerbaijan has the potential to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe, Gabor Orban, CEO of Hungarian energy company MVM CEEnergy, said at the 30th Baku Energy Forum, Report news agency reported.

“Azerbaijan has the potential to export LNG, which can complement pipeline supplies and reach European markets through appropriate terminals,” Orban said.

He noted that the total export potential of non-Russian gas from the Caspian region to Europe is estimated at 30 billion to 45 billion cubic meters per year. Orban emphasized that Hungary, as a landlocked country, relies primarily on pipeline deliveries.

The company, he added, is actively diversifying its gas portfolio and is seeking new supply sources. “We are certainly interested in new opportunities to diversify gas supplies,” he said.

However, Orban pointed to existing infrastructure bottlenecks that limit supply growth. He stressed that the Southern Gas Corridor needs expansion, including doubling the capacity of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) from 10 billion to 20 billion cubic meters per year. He also highlighted the need to modernize interregional connections, particularly between Bulgaria and Serbia, and Serbia and Hungary.

Orban expressed hope that the European Union would provide financial support for the necessary infrastructure investments.

“Gas is back on the agenda — it is no longer banned. This is not about abandoning gas, but about maintaining its role in the energy mix. The key question is whether the EU will be able to support these infrastructure investments,” he said.