Hungary wants to ban firewood exports after Russian oil delivery through Drujba pipeline stopped

Starting Wednesday, the Hungarian government controls the firewood trade through new regulations, which include the state’s preferential right to purchase and a possible ban on the export of this product, which Budapest considers key to the country’s energy supply. The measures were adopted by a decree published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday night, shortly after the delivery of Russian oil through the Drujba pipeline was interrupted.

Exports of firewood, “of strategic importance in Hungary’s energy supply”, will only be possible after an approval from the authorities, who also have, as of Wednesday, a preferential right of purchase, according to the document cited by EFE.

“The decree was drafted to ensure fuel supply by controlling, regulating and, in certain cases, banning firewood exports,” said the Minister of Agriculture, Istvan Nagy, quoted by the MTI agency, writes Agerpres.

The wood purchased by the state will be used to feed those who need it, such as state institutions and local councils, underlines the cited source.

The Orban government has declared a state of energy emergency

These new measures are added to others adopted after Victor Orban’s Government declared in July a state of energy emergency in the country, heavily dependent on hydrocarbon supplies from Russia.

Among other things, households whose gas or electricity consumption exceeds a certain limit will have to pay a higher price, which has triggered an increase in demand for firewood as an alternative source.

Forests cover 21% of Hungary’s surface, with over 400 million cubic meters of trees, according to data from the economic portal Portfolio.hu. The exploitation, in the last 10 years, was on average 7.5 million cubic meters.

Recently, Budapest relaxed certain environmental protection criteria to allow more tree cutting, writes EFE.

Hungary buys 65% of its oil and 85% of its natural gas from Russia, which makes it very vulnerable to the current energy crisis.

Publisher: AA