Budapest is placing its bets on a major gas fracking project near its border with Romania, opting for fossil fuel expansion instead of following Brussels’ push for renewables. Fracking, known for its harmful environmental and health effects, has been banned or heavily restricted in many EU countries, including France, Germany, and Denmark.
However, Hungary ramped up domestic gas production after declaring an energy emergency in 2022, focusing on shale gas extraction via hydraulic fracturing in Békés County, close to Romania. The “Corvinus” project, a partnership between the state-owned MVM group and Horizontal General LLC, was designated a public interest project in 2022, with local authorities granting a key expansion permit late last year.
Local environmental groups aren’t happy about it. They argue the expansion lacks a proper environmental impact assessment, especially considering its proximity to Romania. “It’s unacceptable that, in 2025, a fossil fuel project is expanding without considering its emissions,” said Eszter Galambos, an energy campaigner with Friends of the Earth Hungary. The NGO has filed a court appeal to revoke the expansion permit, pointing out missing assessments on emissions, water usage, and the cumulative effects of multiple gas wells.
The Hungarian government declined to comment, referring inquiries to MVM Group, which assured that minimizing environmental impact is a top priority. According to MVM, the project has all the necessary permits, including valid environmental licenses.
