Hungary has announced an increase in domestic gas production following the declaration of an energy emergency in 2022. This initiative includes shale gas exploration through fracking in Békés County, near the Romanian border.
Critics have raised concerns that the expansion of the project lacks a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and cross-border review. Fracking, a highly controversial and environmentally damaging method of extracting oil and gas from shale, is restricted or banned in several EU countries, including France, Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Despite this, Hungary is intensifying its fracking efforts rather than aligning with the European Union’s push to transition to renewable energy sources. The Corvinus project, a joint venture between the state-owned MVM Group and Horizontal General, was declared a project of public interest in 2022. By the end of that year, local authorities granted a key permit, allowing the project to expand further.
However, local environmental groups have voiced concerns over the project. They argue that the expansion lacks a thorough evaluation of its environmental impact and potential cross-border effects, given its proximity—just 10 kilometers—from the Romanian border. Specifically, critics point out that the project fails to account for the total greenhouse gas emissions, including those from the subsequent burning of the extracted gas and oil. Additionally, key analyses, such as the cumulative impact of multiple gas wells, total water consumption, and emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, are missing. In response, the environmental organization Friends of the Earth Hungary has filed a lawsuit seeking to annul the expansion permit.
In defense of the project, its backers emphasize that minimizing environmental impact and protecting ecological values remain top priorities during gas extraction. They also assert that the project holds all necessary permits, including valid environmental approvals.
