Serbia’s Banatski Dvor underground gas storage expansion is experiencing further slippage, according to project timelines that have moved past the previously targeted end of 2026. The delay increases the need for additional storage capacity outside Serbia. Serbia rents about 500 million cubic metres of storage in Hungary under an agreement between Srbijagas and MVM.
Banatski Dvor capacity and expansion timeline
Banatski Dvor currently holds about 450 million cubic metres of gas. The planned expansion would add roughly 300 million cubic metres, but commissioning is now expected later than the end-of-2026 target. Construction started in April 2025 after years of delays.
Gas supply balance and potential demand drivers
Gas demand timing is a key factor for Serbia, which consumes around 3 billion cubic metres annually. About 2.2 billion cubic metres is supplied from Russia, while 800 million cubic metres comes from Azerbaijan. Additional future demand could come from a proposed gas-fired power plant near Niš.
Ownership and capacity control at Banatski Dvor
Gazprom holds 51% of Banatski Dvor, while the Serbian side owns 49%. Srbijagas currently effectively controls slightly more than 220 million cubic metres of capacity. After the expansion, that control could rise to around 370 million cubic metres.
Project cost and role in diversification strategy
The Banatski Dvor expansion is estimated at about €145 million. With commissioning slipping further, gas storage remains among the main physical constraints affecting Serbia’s wider diversification strategy.
