Mihajlovic: "There are no announcements about interruption of gas supplies from Bulgaria, but..."

Photo: Tanjug/AP

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy Professor Dr. Zorana Mihajlovic told RTS that the supply of gas through the Balkans is stable and that, for now, there are no announcements that supplies from Bulgaria would be interrupted, but that the state will launch a crisis plan if that happens.

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"Serbia regularly receives the agreed quantities of gas through the Balkan Stream through Bulgaria, which is a transit country and whose gas supply has been suspended. For now, everything is normal, which does not mean that we are not ready for every situation. We have been preparing for every scenario for months. There are no announcements, we are in contact with the Bulgarian side, but that doesn't mean that it could not happen that Bulgaria, since it is 100 percent dependent on Russian gas, decides to take over part of the transit for itself. We are ready, which means that we have enough gas in the underground storage in Banatski Dvor for more than a month; Another option of the crisis plan is substitution, most often it's mazut fuel oil or supply restrictions," she said, adding:

"The third thing is for Russian partners to continue deliveries through Hungary. In any case, we are ready for any kind of scenario at the moment of an energy-political crisis."

Mihajlovic said that we receive 6 million cubic meters of gas via the Balkan Stream, that yesterday's consumption was around 5 million, but that in the winter months the consumption will be between 11 and 15 million a day.

"We are working on preparations for the winter season, which will not be easy for anyone in Europe, especially not for countries that are 100% dependent on Russian gas, such as us. We are also considering alternative routes, there are free capacities of Transgas in the Balkan Stream of about 10 percent, which is close to half of our annual consumption. Bulgartransgaz has free capacities and the Turkish operator can transport those quantities, which will be enough for our stability. We will do everything to provide sufficient quantities for the economy, which consumes 70% of the total gas, and for the citizens for the winter season as well. The storage in Banatski Dvor is constantly being supplemented, negotiations about a new or extension of the existing contract with Gazprom are underway, and we are negotiating with other countries on a joint storage facility Serbia-Bulgaria-Hungary," said the minister of Mining and Energy.

(Telegraf Biznis)