The analysis shows that these countries would lack 80 to 100 percent of this energy, with the exception of Serbia, because domestic gas production covers a quarter of total demand
If gas supply disruptions occur or the supply of this fuel is completely interrupted during the winter, the biggest problems would be Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Finland and Estonia, according to the latest European Commission report on the resilience of the European gas system.
The problem would last for some six months, as long as the winter lasts, in some European countries, but they would not be as vulnerable as the Eastern European Union member countries and the Energy Community.
The analysis shows that in the event of a complete disruption of delivery, these countries would lack 80 to 100 percent of this energy, with the exception of Serbia, because domestic gas production would cover a quarter of total needs, while the second quarter would be replaced from the domestic gas storage “Banatski Dvor”. From this, the same analysis shows, the supply of households and a number of heating plants would go smoothly.
That is why the European Commission proposes to Serbia an urgent diversification of supplies, which means in translation, the construction of another gas pipeline in order for gas to come from the other direction, and also to supply our country with some other gas, and not just Russian.
For the purposes of this research, the European Commission called on all members of the Energy Community – Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo to participate in this “stress test” and conduct analysis at the national level.
This analysis is just another admonition to this part of the Balkans, especially Serbia, to solve the issue of construction of the Niš-Dimitrovgrad gas pipeline as soon as possible, in the event of a gas crisis to have an alternative.
– The European Union has been promising to help build the Nis-Dimitrovgrad gas pipeline for 20 years and nothing has been done. Europe gave Bulgarians the money, they gave us promises. Every year this is promising, but the first hash is not stabbed yet – says Vojislav Vuletić, president of the Serbian Gas Association.
– A two-way gas pipeline, 180 km long from the hub in Dupnica near Sofia, would enter Serbia at Dimitrovgrad. It would connect Pirot, Bela Palanka and Niš, from where it would bump towards Zaječar and Prahovo – he says.
Its construction would eliminate the fear of possible damage on the existing route through Horgos, which could jeopardize the supply of gas consumers in southern Serbia.
– Bulgaria’s interest is to provide gas transportation and to charge transportation fees. Serbia’s interests are higher, as it would increase energy security, and our country would also participate in the transportation of gas for other countries – says Vuletić.
In support of this story, the latest study, published by the Advisory Council of European Sciences recently, shows that there is little hope that shale gas will help Europe to become energy-independent.
When asked if this could be an alternative to our country, since Athens invited us at the end of last year to participate with 20% of the shares with the same percentage of investments, Vuletić says that every alternative is welcome, but the question is how much it pays off for Serbia to participate in that job.
– This is more interesting, if it is known that even Europe does not use already constructed LNG terminals, the example works in Estonia, where US gas should come. And for this LNG with the Greeks, it is not known yet whose gas would arrive in Aleksandropulos, nor at what price – concluded Vuletić.
