Russians assure minister Serbia will have gas supplies

Russians assure minister Serbia will have gas supplies

Antić, who talked with Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak in Moscow on Friday, conveyed the assurances of the Russian side that supplying Serbia with gas will be a priority for Russia, given that the energy capacities of Serbia were seriously affected by the severe floods that hit the country in May.

“I must say that we have analyzed all possible scenarios very openly and that we received strong assurances from Russian partners that in any of these scenarios they will see as their priority to provide the needed gas quantities for Serbia in the time ahead,” Antić said.

The minister noted that an agreement has been reached to continue filling the underground gas storage facility (UGS) Banatski Dvor, northern Serbia, whose reserves now stand at around 60 percent of overall capacity that amounts to 450 million cubic meters.

The Serbian minister was evidently satisfied with the backing voiced by the Russian side, which understands the position of Serbia whose key coal mines were flooded, warning that the country actually has no alternative for gas supply at the moment.

Antić said that he also discussed with Novak, who is chairman of the joint committee of Serbia and Russia, the need for stepping up economic relations between the two countries even further.

Antić also announced that he agreed with representatives of the Russian company Silovye Mashiny in Moscow to step up repair works on the turbines in the hydro-power plant (HPP) Đerdap on the Danube River.

“At a meeting with representatives of the company it was noted that certain problems arose due to delays in the repair works on Đerdap, and that they still exist, but we agreed that the Serbian ministry of mining and energy should make sure that all Serbian obligations are met, and the Russian side will do its best to efficiently deliver its part of the job,” Antić told Tanjug last week.

The minister also said that a meeting with Novak "touched upon the issue of Serbia's debt to the Russian state and Russian companies for the supply of energy sources."

“There is a high level of understanding from the Russian side concerning the floods in Serbia, because of which our country is in a difficult situation at the moment, and I have underscored that we appreciate this and that we will together with the Russian side be committed to agreements aimed at resolving the issue of debts,” Antić said.

During the meeting, the officials also discussed the operations of Russian companies in the energy sector, and oil and gas industry in Serbia, agreeing that both ministries should watch their work and solve problems that might arise along the way.