Q:
A:
Normal gas supply expected within next few days
Belgrade,
7 January 2009
Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said this evening that the situation concerning the gas supply to Serbia is not critical, but it is quite serious. He said that he hopes that the supply will return to normal within the next few days, since negotiations are going on regarding this issue.
From left: Petar Skundric, Mirko Cvetkovic and Vuk Jeremic
Speaking at a press conference, held after a special government session on the energy situation in the country, Cvetkovic said that efforts made today by Srbijagas to import gas from Hungary were not successful, because Hungary too is facing a difficult energy situation.
He said that Hungary agreed to supply gas after supply problems from Ukraine are resolved, so that the needs of consumers in Serbia are met as soon as possible.
He said that talks with Russia about providing gas to Serbia via the alternate and now overloaded gas pipeline through Belarus are going on.
He said that it is a happy coincidence that the majority of power plants in Serbia can be run on Mazut fuel oil, adding that eight plants are not equipped to function on this kind of fuel.
We have enough Mazut for at least one month and agreements can be reached with NIS about increased production, so this does not present a problem, said the Prime Minister.
He explained that it is essential to save electricity, because many people will use other sources apart from gas for heating.
He said that the Serbian electric power industry Elektroprivreda Srbije produces nearly 140 million kilowatt hours of electricity, which is a bit below the current maximum consumption rate, making it necessary to import electricity.
Cvetkovic said that the electricity supply system is stable and production is high, which will help deal with the situation.
He said that Serbia needs nearly 10 million cubic metres of gas daily and supplies in the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility are around 100 million cubic metres.
The press conference was also attended by Minister for Energy and Mining Petar Skundric and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.
Jeremic stressed that the Russian gas supply crisis is a “geostrategic issue” and that Serbia is in touch with Russia, the EU and neighbouring countries regarding the issue.
We are following the situation closely and we are in contact with the Russians in order to find alternative supply sources, said Jeremic.
He said that Hungary agreed to supply gas after supply problems from Ukraine are resolved, so that the needs of consumers in Serbia are met as soon as possible.
He said that talks with Russia about providing gas to Serbia via the alternate and now overloaded gas pipeline through Belarus are going on.
He said that it is a happy coincidence that the majority of power plants in Serbia can be run on Mazut fuel oil, adding that eight plants are not equipped to function on this kind of fuel.
We have enough Mazut for at least one month and agreements can be reached with NIS about increased production, so this does not present a problem, said the Prime Minister.
He explained that it is essential to save electricity, because many people will use other sources apart from gas for heating.
He said that the Serbian electric power industry Elektroprivreda Srbije produces nearly 140 million kilowatt hours of electricity, which is a bit below the current maximum consumption rate, making it necessary to import electricity.
Cvetkovic said that the electricity supply system is stable and production is high, which will help deal with the situation.
He said that Serbia needs nearly 10 million cubic metres of gas daily and supplies in the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility are around 100 million cubic metres.
The press conference was also attended by Minister for Energy and Mining Petar Skundric and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.
Jeremic stressed that the Russian gas supply crisis is a “geostrategic issue” and that Serbia is in touch with Russia, the EU and neighbouring countries regarding the issue.
We are following the situation closely and we are in contact with the Russians in order to find alternative supply sources, said Jeremic.
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