The director of Srbijagas, Dušan Bajatović, announced that negotiations regarding the gas agreement with Russia are ongoing. The main point under discussion is the contract’s duration, with hopes that a final agreement will be reached by May 31, when the current arrangement expires.
Energy expert Nenad Gujaničić told Forbes Magazine that while Serbia is gaining some level of security with this agreement, diversification of gas supply sources remains essential. He emphasized that Serbia does not have many options and that signing a new gas deal is a practical step. Gujaničić pointed out that some European Union members, like Slovakia and Hungary, also rely heavily on Russian gas, and he believes the EU will be understanding of Serbia’s position given its geographic proximity to Russia.
According to Gujaničić, Serbia should work on improving its energy security by enhancing storage capacities, which have been delayed partly due to Russia’s reluctance to invest in such expansions. Increasing storage would improve Serbia’s situation, while diversifying gas sources is a more challenging but necessary long-term strategic goal. By diversifying, Serbia can avoid dependence on a single supplier.
