In January 2019, Russian and Serbian gas companies Gazprom and Srbijagas have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project for the capacity expansion of Banatski Dvor underground gas storage by 300 million cubic meters to a total of 750 million cubic meters with the maximum daily withdrawal capacity of up to 10 million cubic meters.
Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Zorana Mihajlovic discussed possible future cooperation with the representatives of Russian company IDC, which was the main contractor for the construction of TurkStream gas pipeline extension through Serbia, the so-called Balkan Stream pipeline. The two sides talked about possible cooperation on the project for the expansion of Banatski Dvor gas pipeline, which leads to Serbia’s sole gas storage capacity at Banatski Dvor.
Representatives of IDC informed the Minister about the current activities toward the commissioning of the gas pipeline by the end of the year. Minister Mihajlovic reminded that with the commissioning of this gas pipeline, Serbia will be getting another gas supply source, thus increasing its energy security.
Gazprom said in a statement that this MoU sets the main parameters of the planned expansion and enshrines the agreement between the two companies on the joint implementation of the project. It also said that during 2018, natural gas deliveries to Serbia rose by 1.2 % compared to the previous year to a total of 2.15 billion cubic meters. Gazprom holds 51 % stake in Banatski Dvor underground gas storage.
