Serbia’s gas deal with Azerbaijan: Import volume confirmed for winter

Serbia is currently importing up to 2.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Azerbaijan, according to the director of the Srbijagas company, Dušan Bajatović.

This supply, Bajatović assures, will prevent any gas shortages for Serbia through the end of the heating season, and there are no concerns regarding price increases for consumers, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

In November 2023, Serbia signed a contract with Azerbaijan for the annual supply of up to 400 million cubic meters of natural gas, making Serbia the eighth country to receive Azerbaijani gas.

Additionally, a contract signed in 2024 between SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic) and Srbijagas will further increase the supply by 1 million cubic meters per day, running from November 1, 2024, to April 1, 2025. Looking ahead, plans are in place to increase this supply to 1 billion cubic meters per year.

On January 1, Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy, Dubravka Djedović-Handanović, confirmed that Serbia expects to receive up to 2 million cubic meters of gas per day from Azerbaijan this winter. She emphasized that although the energy crisis has not yet ended, Serbia has taken comprehensive measures to ensure winter preparedness and minimize reliance on volatile market trends.

“We have repaired thermal and hydroelectric power plants, filled coal dumps, and gas storage facilities. Currently, there are approximately 440 million cubic meters of gas in storage at Banatski Dvor and Hungary’s CCGTs. We have also initiated an expansion project at Banatski Dvor to significantly increase its capacity. Furthermore, we have secured reliable gas supplies from both Russia and Azerbaijan,” Minister Djedović-Handanović explained.

She highlighted that cooperation with both Azerbaijan and Russia plays a crucial role in ensuring stable and safe gas supplies for Serbia throughout the winter months.

By Tamilla Hasanova