Bajatovic: Serbia has more than enough gas, price for households not to change by the end of the heating season

Tensions are growing due to the stopping of the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, primarily in Europe. While Brussels is assuring that the supply of EU members has not been brought into question, Slovakia is seeking support from the EU. Russian gas is not reaching Moldova either, where an energy crisis is already becoming apparent. But, Serbia has a stable supply from the Balkan Stream, that is, the TurkStream, the reserves have been secured, assures the director of Srbijagas, Dusan Bajatovic. By the end of the heating season, the prices of gas for households will remain unchanged, he says for RTS and points out that Serbia has enough gas, maybe even a surplus of it.

Currently, Serbia withdraws 11 million cubic meters of gas through the TurkStream, and it can withdraw even more, says the director of Srbijagas.

– We don’t have to worry until the end of the heating season, we have more than enough gas. We are well-prepared. We have 100 million cubic meters in Hungary, Banatski Dvor is full. We withdraw up to 2.5 million from Azerbaijan and, altogether, we can deliver up to 19 or even 21 million cubic meters of gas a day, and in peak winter, we don’t project more than 17 million – says Bajatovic.

When it comes to the situation regarding gas in the world, primarily Europe, the director of Srbijagas says that Americans now take up a bigger share of the European market.

– Deliveries in Europe are 10% lower. It is interesting that, although Russian gas is not withdrawn from the pipes, the deliveries of Russian gas from LNG have increased. Americans now take up a bigger share of the European market, gas storage facilities are emptied quickly, primarily because of the power plants, because green energy is not enough – says Bajatovic.

He also adds that European solidarity has not quite been there.

– There will be various energy-related disturbances. We have serious requests from Europe for gas to be transported by the Balkan Stream, Hungary is already withdrawing big quantities. We currently withdraw 11 million cubic meters a day through the Balkan Stream, and we can withdraw 13 – points out Bajatovic.

He also says that everything that Azerbaijan can produce has been sold for years in advance.

– Everybody seeks 15-year agreements, otherwise, nobody would build gas pipelines. There is gas, but it needs to be produced, and there are not enough transport ships either. The question of financial sanctions imposed against Russia has created the problem of paying for gas. We have certain modalities and we have managed to pay for what we have taken. There is gas, there is even a surplus of it – notes Bajatovic.

JP Srbijagas Novi Sad

PE Srbijagas Novi Sad

Dušan Bajatović

gas reserves in Serbia

transit of Russian gas through Ukraine