Bajatovic on transit of gas after Putin's decision: Can Bulgarians stop gas transport?

General Director of Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic said today that there would be no "rublization" of payments for the transit of Russian gas, and that Bulgaria under the Balkan Stream Agreement, which is valid for 20 years, "cannot stop gas transport through its territory."

"(Russians) have already paid Bulgarians for the transport, through the end of 2023, in dollars, as agreed. We in Serbia charge for that (gas transit) in euros, and if it is not possible in euros, we will take some quantities of gas that belong to Gazprom Export and in that way charge as if we had done it in euros," said Bajatovic.

He added that it is good that Gazprom and Gazprom Export are not on the list of sanctions, and noted that Serbia has not been marked as a hostile country by the Russian Federation.

"And I don't think that will ever happen. So, we should be able to successfully solve, above of all, the issue of gas, and it seems to me that we will have EU's understanding, given the position of Serbia, also for buying Russian oil," Bajatovic told Tanjug.

He also pointed out that Srbijagas, Serbia's natural gas public enterprise, has started filling the storage in Banatski Dvor at current market prices, which, after Moscow's decision to introduce payments in rubles for "hostile countries" reached a price of 1,400 to 1,500 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, transport included.

Bajatovic said that Serbia receives the agreed six million cubic meters of gas per day, with reserves in Banski Dvor reaching 50 million cubic meters of ours and 160 million cubic meters of gas belonging to Gazprom Export, of which Serbia can count on 40 million cubic meters at the stock exchange price.

Russia on the current situation

"Within seven days, Russia will develop a mechanism and clarify conditions for paying for gas in rubles," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.

"Accordingly, as contacts are established with buyers of gas and after the conditions of payment in rubles are explained to them, they will be able to formulate their position. Let's wait for that moment," he said when asked whether European buyers will consider the Russian decision to switch to the ruble as breach of contract.

Peskov also said that President of Russia Vladimir Putin yesterday ordered that a mechanism be worked out within a week, and that conditions are created for payment in rubles.

(Telegraf Biznis)