Serbian Energy Minister announces plans to reduce dependence on gas from Russia

Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic said that Serbia plans to reduce dependence on Russian gas and wants to receive a significant amount of fuel from other suppliers.

⠀

According to Mihajlovic, by September 2023, the construction of a gas transmission link between Serbia and Bulgaria should be completed.

 ⠀
“During this year, we must book the capacity of the Greek LNG terminal, as well as on routes through Bulgaria, in order to be ready to receive at least 40 percent of the gas used from another supplier, that is, not from the Russian Federation, from another country,” Mikhailovich explained.

⠀
At the same time, the minister said that now Srbijagas is negotiating with Gazprom regarding a new contract for gas supplies, discussions are being held at the level of companies and are “not easy”.

 ⠀
“We believe that we will not be able to keep the price of $270 per thousand cubic meters, but it will definitely be much, much lower than the current market price of $950,” Mihajlovic added.

⠀
Negotiations with Gazprom were announced in early May by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. According to him, the country will depend on gas from Russia “for at least another two years, probably longer,” but is ready to diversify.