The drafting of a joint energy strategy of southeast European countries should point to the possibility of the most rational use of one’s own energy resources, said Serbian President’s Advisor for Energy Petar Škundric. It is the best way to provide full energy security of the region, he told a conference OIL AND GAS 2011. More from Zorica Mijuškovic.
Fear of energy instability caused by a drastic drop of oil reserves of the world’s top manufacturers creates a need of strong links among small countries, such as Serbia, emphasized Škundric. In the case of Serbia, in addition to participation in the SOUTHERN STREAM project, also includes taking part in the building of the PEOP oil pipe a PEOP from Romania to Serbia. The realization of those projects would provide Serbia with safe oil and gas supplies and contribute to the development of the whole region and its full integration into the European community, assessed Škundric. Potentials for joint work in the energy field lie in the Republic of Srpska, but also in Bulgaria, he said. Explorations in the Adriatic Sea, together with Montenegro, are also important. In the next three to four years, investments in the oil sector should amount to some 1.5 billion euros, announced Škundric.
Serbia is not being threated with a lack of energy, which has been provided for the next 100 years, considering the potentials of alternative sources. Oil reserves in Serbia have been estimated at some 10 million tons, while balance quantities are much higher and have been estimated at over 40 million tons. As for gas reserves, they have been estimated at 25 billion cubic meters. In the Sava river region, in the Republic of Srpska, there are some 10 million tons of crude oil in one deposit alone. Therefore Serbia and the Republic of Srpska have formed a joint enterprise for the purpose of exploration. Škundric emphasized Serbia boasted significant shale deposits, namely several basins, the most important of which – of some 2.1 billion tons – is in the vicinity of the town of Aleksinac.
As for the gas sector, the strategic project with the Russian Federation – the building of the Southern Stream gas line – is not being called in question. The construction of a section through Serbia, some 440km long, should secure two interconnections – one towards BIH, which would be 101km long, and one towards Croatia – which would be 76 km long. The project also includes the completion of the underground gas storage of Banatski Dvor.
Serbian Assistant Foreign Minister Zoran Vujic says that the project of the Serbian Power Supply Company and Chinese company on Nikola Tesla B3 thermal power plant, the construction of which should begin in early 2012, is worth two billion EUR and is important because it will turn Serbia into a significant transit zone and attract new investments.
The conference in Belgrade gathered experts from Serbia and rerpesentatives of energy sectors of Great Britain, Greece, Switzerland and Russia.
