Hungary wants to develop unconventional gas production to help Europe's energy independence

Hungarian government officials say the country is looking to start producing tight gas, an unconventional form of the fossil fuel, from its deposits and contribute to Europe's energy independence.

Hungary's unconventional gas deposits are estimated at some 1,500 billion cubic meters, but they are deep and hard to access.

Attila Nyikos, deputy head for international affairs at Hungary's Energy Authority, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Hungary wants to be among the few European countries embracing extraction of unconventional gas. Many states are reluctant to extract tight and shale gas amid environmental concerns.

Hungary depends on Russia for some 80 percent of its gas needs. It has about 100 research wells for unconventional gas, seven of them by the Canadian company Falcon TXM, including one with small-scale commercial production.