Russian gas arrives in Serbia

The first shipment of Russian gas has arrived in Serbia, with Srbijagas saying that supplies will return to full capacity during the course of the day. Gas supplies are expected to return to normal on Wednesday for all consumers, and Serbia will be receiving 10 million cubic meters of gas daily, the same volume it received before the gas crisis, Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said. Russian gas arrives in Serbia Bajatovic added that Srbijagas found itself in a very difficult situation, warning of possible price increases. “Russian gas shipments destined for the Serbian market began to arrive yesterday evening, and at full capacity today. Therefore, we currently have at our disposal virtually all the agreed volumes, and, in the course of the day, we’ll restore full supply to the Serbian market,” said the Srbijagas CEO. “As regards remote heating systems, since this was a separate issue, Srbijagas will enable supplies of sufficient quantities of gas as soon as the thermo plants require it,” he added. Owing to the difficult financial situation and the heavy losses incurred, the company is considering several options. “One possibility is to raise prices, which Srbijagas believes to be the best option. The second is for the government to assess the situation and find certain emergency funds, which I’m sure exist within the budget, and the third thing involves a further loan to Srbijagas, which constitutes a real problem, not just for financing the company, but because we’re already at our limit,” Bajatovic explained. According to the company’s calculations, gas prices need to be increased by 18 percent. Earlier, the Thermo Power Plant Association confirmed for B92 that they were switching back to crude heating oil because of the lack of gas. The Beogradske Elektrane company, which is the single largest consumer of gas in Serbia and which uses 25 percent of all gas during the winter, will not switch over to gas completely yet, in order not to jeopardize supply for other consumers, especially independent customers. Thermo power plants around Serbia are expected to gradually revert back to gas today. The energy situation in the country will be the topic of today’s meeting of the National Infrastructure Council presided over by President Boris Tadic. Russian gas started arriving in European countries through Ukraine yesterday after resolution of the Russo-Ukrainian gas dispute, which stopped the flow of gas to most of Europe over the last two weeks. Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia confirmed last night that they had begun receiving Russian gas again. Dusan Bajatovic (FoNet, archive)

Russian gas arrives in Serbia

Bajatović added that Srbijagas found itself in a very difficult situation, warning of possible price increases.

“Russian gas shipments destined for the Serbian market began to arrive yesterday evening, and at full capacity today. Therefore, we currently have at our disposal virtually all the agreed volumes, and, in the course of the day, we’ll restore full supply to the Serbian market,” said the Srbijagas CEO.

“As regards remote heating systems, since this was a separate issue, Srbijagas will enable supplies of sufficient quantities of gas as soon as the thermo plants require it,” he added.

Owing to the difficult financial situation and the heavy losses incurred, the company is considering several options.

“One possibility is to raise prices, which Srbijagas believes to be the best option. The second is for the government to assess the situation and find certain emergency funds, which I’m sure exist within the budget, and the third thing involves a further loan to Srbijagas, which constitutes a real problem, not just for financing the company, but because we’re already at our limit,” Bajatović explained.

According to the company’s calculations, gas prices need to be increased by 18 percent.

Earlier, the Thermo Power Plant Association confirmed for B92 that they were switching back to crude heating oil because of the lack of gas.

The Beogradske Elektrane company, which is the single largest consumer of gas in Serbia and which uses 25 percent of all gas during the winter, will not switch over to gas completely yet, in order not to jeopardize supply for other consumers, especially independent customers.

Thermo power plants around Serbia are expected to gradually revert back to gas today.

The energy situation in the country will be the topic of today’s meeting of the National Infrastructure Council presided over by President Boris Tadić.

Russian gas started arriving in European countries through Ukraine yesterday after resolution of the Russo-Ukrainian gas dispute, which stopped the flow of gas to most of Europe over the last two weeks.

Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia confirmed last night that they had begun receiving Russian gas again.