Serbia: Serbian-Bulgarian pipeline is not a priority

The natural gas in Serbia can hike now; however, everything depends on Serbian government and the Energy Agency, the general director of Serbiagaz Dusan Bajatovic said. Bjatovic said that the Company had not filled in a claim on hiking gas price in a compliance with the political agreement.

In his words the total amount of consumers’ debt for gas is about RSD 12 billion /RSD 99=EUR 1/, as the heating utilities and the industry owe about RSD 9 billion. Belgrade power-plants owe RSD 5 billion.

Asked about the speculations the South Stream and the Nabucco pipeline projects can be united Bajatovic said that he doubts it is of Russia’s political and economic interest the projects to be united.

Regarding to the agreement with Bulgaria on the construction of the pipeline, Bajatovic said that this pipeline is not a priority from commercial point of view but will contribute to the energy security.

“The question is not whether we want to construct the pipeline but whether the European Commission treats us equally with Bulgarians. Bulgaria has received money for the construction of its part of the pipeline, but we should reach an agreement on the financing of our part,” Bajatovic noted.