"In my view, the actual revenues coming to Russia due to the additional gas sales to Hungary are relatively unimportant."

In his statement to Enews, British expert Neil Watson commented on the news that Gazprom will send more gas to Hungary this winter.

It was noted in the news that PJSC Gazprom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexey Miller told Rossiya 1 that the company will increase the volume of its gas supplies for Hungary during the forthcoming heating season. 

Here the question arises, what will be Russia's profit from this? What could be the profit of Azerbaijan? The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijarto emphasized in the panel discussion of the Tbilisi International Silk Road Forum that Hungary considers Azerbaijan one of the real sources in the diversification of energy sources.

According to Neil Watson, the most essential element is that the sales maintain and exponentially increase the Hungarian-Russian economic relationship at a time when Russia needs supportive countries:

"Naturally, given the energy requirements of Europe, particularly in winter, there is the potential to increase gas supplies from Azerbaijan and Russia, the latter being subject to sanctions, but clear demarcation lines need be established so that Russia and Azerbaijan collaborate, rather than compete, particularly since the Southern Gas Corridor has been built at over-capacity to carry gas from Turkmenistan and other countries, in addition to Azerbaijani Caspian Gas. Aside from this, SOCAR is constantly discovering new reserves, so it will be well-placed to increase gas exports to Hungary."

Ulviyya Shahin