Dusan Bajatovic (BETAPHOTO/Dragan Gojic)
Director of Srbijagas Dusan Bajatovic stated on June 26 that the new long-term gas agreement with Russia should be signed by Sept. 20, but that the final formalization was delayed due to decisions pertaining to Serbia’s obligations towards the European Union.
“The problem is not in what we have to sign, but in the legal and financial risks, from the possible sanctions to the costs of transit and delivery. It will be signed by Sept. 20, but we must see how to open the market, while keeping control,” Bajatovic said in an interview to the RTS.
He warned that the opening of the gas market, as requested by Brussels, could lead to Srbijagas no longer being the guarantor of supply. “If we create a speculative market, there could be a shortage of gas, price hikes and insecurity for the consumers,” he assessed.
Last week, the European Commission proposed a gradual ban on the imports of Russian fuels, including gas, by 2027. In his words, Hungary and Slovakia demand that this provision is removed from the 18th sanctions package, threatening to block its adoption in the opposite case.
To get full access to all content of interest see our
Subscription offer
Or
Register for free
And read up to 5 articles each month.
Already have an account? Please Log in.