The editor of the portal „Energija Balkana“ Jelica Putniković assessed that Serbia has sufficient quantities of gas and electricity, as well as that the increase in gas consumption in the economy initiated the provision of additional storage facilities that will guarantee the realization of the contracted production.
“Towards Hungary, we have an old gas pipeline near Horgoš through which gas used to arrive from Russia, and it is also possible to deliver some other gas there. Serbia has the ability to provide itself if there is a problem with the supply of Russian gas via the Turkish Stream,” she said for Tanjug.
She assessed that it is in Azerbaijan’s interest to sell larger quantities of gas, but that the question is how many additional and free quantities are there in that gas field.
“It would be good if new gas storages were built in Serbia, since in addition to energy security, we will be in a position to trade. We have one gas connection that is an extension of the Turkish flow through Bulgaria, as well as the Niš-Dimitrovgrad-Subotica gas connection, which should be operational until the end of the year as announced,” she pointed out.
Putniković also reminded of the construction of the LNG terminal “Alexandropolis” near Thessaloniki, through which certain quantities of gas will arrive, which will provide Serbia with diversification of sources.
Answering the question about the sustainability of the current price of energy products, Putniković assessed that it does not cover the purchase price of imported gas, and that in this way the state met the citizens and the economy.
“As consumers, we have spoiled ourselves, since we have the cheapest energy sources, and at the same time we are less energy efficient. If we had started talking about energy efficiency earlier, many of us would have made the necessary investments in our homes in order not to heat the street. Last winter, all countries in Europe continued to control energy prices, and what will happen to the price next winter depends a lot on the war in Ukraine and the consumption of energy in China,” she said.
Putniković pointed out that she hopes that there will be no new increases in energy prices.
“If we talk about energy stability, we have to take care that we have successful state companies EPS and Srbijagas,” she said.
