Electricity prices to rise, gas prices to fall

Energy Minister Petar Skundric said that electricity prices would increase in the first several months of 2010, but that gas prices would drop. He told daily Vecernje novosti that electricity is expected to increase in price by about 10 percent, and it is possible that the government will make a decision on decreasing gas prices, though the percentage is not known yet. Electricity prices to rise, gas prices to fall Skundric said that this would create balance within the prices of energy sources. Commenting the announcements that Serbian Electric (EPS) will ask for another increase in the prices of electricity in July 2010, Skundric said that a decision on price corrections will be made depending on the macroeconomic situation at the time. He said that the agreement between Serbia and Italy for building hydro-electric plants is the best possible thing Serbia could do at this time. He reminded that the government and parliament have obligated themselves to promote the energy sector and develop renewable sources of energy, as well as to secure financing for projects. As far as the South Stream pipeline project is concerned, Skundric said that the route of the pipeline is expected to be defined in the first half of 2010, and that the construction of the section of the pipeline traveling through Serbia is expected to begin in 2011. Skundric said that an expert debate should be opened on the use of nuclear energy. “There is no use in closing our eyes to that topic, but while the moratorium is in power, nothing will be done that goes against it,” Skundric said. Petar Skundric (FoNet archive)

Electricity prices to rise, gas prices to fall

Škundrić said that this would create balance within the prices of energy sources.

Commenting the announcements that Serbian Electric (EPS) will ask for another increase in the prices of electricity in July 2010, Škundrić said that a decision on price corrections will be made depending on the macroeconomic situation at the time.

He said that the agreement between Serbia and Italy for building hydro-electric plants is the best possible thing Serbia could do at this time.

He reminded that the government and parliament have obligated themselves to promote the energy sector and develop renewable sources of energy, as well as to secure financing for projects.

As far as the South Stream pipeline project is concerned, Škundrić said that the route of the pipeline is expected to be defined in the first half of 2010, and that the construction of the section of the pipeline traveling through Serbia is expected to begin in 2011.

Škundrić said that an expert debate should be opened on the use of nuclear energy.

“There is no use in closing our eyes to that topic, but while the moratorium is in power, nothing will be done that goes against it,” Škundrić said.