Russian energy giant Gazprom’s suspension of gas delivery to Poland and Bulgaria does not affect the Serbian gas supply, Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlović said on Wednesday, adding that Serbia gets gas through the Balkans via Bulgaria, as a transit country.
“Serbia receives gas via the Balkan Stream in regular, pre-defined quantities of six million cubic metres. The country spends some 4.6 million cubic metres a day, which means we have enough to cover our needs,” said Mihajlović, adding that she “hopes Bulgaria will not take the gas for its own needs,” and that she is in touch with Bulgarian representatives.
Regardless of the regular supply, Serbia is preparing for unforeseen situations, for instance, the interruption of gas supplies to the transit country Bulgaria, which, as was the case previously, can take gas for its own needs.
The minister said that Serbia is ready if such a situation arises, listing several possible scenarios.
As a first option, Serbia can use gas from the natural gas storage facility in Banatski Dvor, in Vojvodina, where there are reserves for 21 days in the Serbian part and for another 22 days in the Russian part. A second option is to supplement the storage in Banatski Dvor, while the third is to lease the capacity in storage outside Serbia, for example, in Hungary, and consider joint gas purchases with Europe, Mihajlović added.
All options are currently being considered to ensure supply is sufficient for the upcoming winter season when the daily consumption is from 11 to 15 million cubic metres, she also said.
