Government prepares “options” for NIS

Mladjan Dinkic says the government will do everything in its power to finalize the energy agreement with Russia quickly. The deputy premier and economy minister said that the government has prepared ten options for the negotiations for the sale of the Serbian oil monopoly NIS to Russia's Gazprom – a part of the energy agreement, ratified in parliament last week, that also includes construction of the South Stream pipeline through Serbia, and of a natural gas storage depot in Banatski Dvor. Government prepares “options” for NIS “It is most important for Serbia to reach an agreement with Russia regarding all three elements in the package, stressing the realistic market value of NIS, which is estimated to be worth EUR 2.2bn,” Dinkic told daily Blic. He said that the energy agreement leaves room for Serbia to receive a trunk pipeline which guarantees a minimum of 10 billion cubic meters of gas, adding that 18 billion is needed for such an extensive pipeline. “It is necessary to define the level of investments in the regional storage facility in Bantaski Dvor, and the level and dynamics of investments in NIS, but also environmental standards, the question of de-monopolization of the internal market, and the minimal price at which the shares of citizens and employees of NIS will be purchase,” Dinkic said. He added that the government is also speaking with Russia about all elements of the energy deal, which should result in the signing of a contract that would include the gas pipeline, investments in the regional storage facility and the agreement for selling NIS. “Such a negotiation platform, which treats all three elements as one package, has been agreed on by senior officials of both countries. We are prepared for open talks with our Russian partners and we expect that they will begin on September 22, which is when the visit of [Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei] Shoigu is announced for,” Dinkic said. He added that the Serbian side will do everything to make sure that the energy agreement with Russia is confirmed as soon as possible, which will serve the best interest of both countries. Last week, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin warned Belgrade to adhere to the terms of the agreement signed in Moscow on Jan. 25 by the two countries' top officials.

Government prepares “options” for NIS

“It is most important for Serbia to reach an agreement with Russia regarding all three elements in the package, stressing the realistic market value of NIS, which is estimated to be worth EUR 2.2bn,” Dinkić told daily Blic.

He said that the energy agreement leaves room for Serbia to receive a trunk pipeline which guarantees a minimum of 10 billion cubic meters of gas, adding that 18 billion is needed for such an extensive pipeline.

“It is necessary to define the level of investments in the regional storage facility in Bantaski Dvor, and the level and dynamics of investments in NIS, but also environmental standards, the question of de-monopolization of the internal market, and the minimal price at which the shares of citizens and employees of NIS will be purchase,” Dinkić said.

He added that the government is also speaking with Russia about all elements of the energy deal, which should result in the signing of a contract that would include the gas pipeline, investments in the regional storage facility and the agreement for selling NIS.

“Such a negotiation platform, which treats all three elements as one package, has been agreed on by senior officials of both countries. We are prepared for open talks with our Russian partners and we expect that they will begin on September 22, which is when the visit of [Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei] Shoigu is announced for,” Dinkić said.

He added that the Serbian side will do everything to make sure that the energy agreement with Russia is confirmed as soon as possible, which will serve the best interest of both countries.

Last week, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin warned Belgrade to adhere to the terms of the agreement signed in Moscow on Jan. 25 by the two countries' top officials.