Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the filling of leased gas storage facility in Hungary with gas delivered from Russia will begin in 15 to 20 days at the latest.
President Vucic stressed that the storing of gas in Hungary means 10 % more security for the winter, and Serbia also buying coal on the side in order to secure the missing quantities for electricity production at TPPs, adding that, currently, state- owned EPS excavates about 60,000 tons of coal per day, while coal consumption during winter reaches 95,000 tons per day.
He said that Serbia had not been officially notified of the new package of EU sanctions against Russian oil, but, according to the draft, the transition period is six months, which means that could be issues with crude oil supply as of early 2023. According to him, previously Serbia imported most of its crude oil from Iraq, but shifter to Russian imports in the past few months because it is cheaper.
The construction of oil storage capacities in Serbia is still in the planning phase, but it should be completed within two years.
According to Vucic, the price of fuel in Serbia could see a slight increase by the winter, but it is cheaper than in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
