Serbia will not face any issues with its gas supply for the remainder of the heating season, and gas prices for the population will remain unchanged, according to Srbijagas Director Dušan Bajatović.
Bajatović highlighted that gas consumption has increased recently, even though temperatures have not dropped below freezing. The country is currently consuming 14 million cubic meters of gas per day, with the industrial sector accounting for the largest share of this increase. He noted that gas consumption in households has decreased by nearly 15 percent. However, for this time of year, daily consumption of 14 million cubic meters is unusually high, representing a 20 percent increase compared to previous years when there were more cold days.
Previously, Serbia would only consume 14 million cubic meters of gas during peak periods, but now, daily consumption is expected to reach between 17 to 18 million cubic meters.
When discussing future oil and gas price changes, Bajatović admitted that predicting the stock market is difficult. However, he expects gas prices to stay within the planned corridor of 37 to 48 euros per megawatt, or approximately 450 euros per 1,000 cubic meters.
Serbia benefits from a more favorable price agreement with Russia, currently paying around 320 euros per 1,000 cubic meters, thanks to an agreement made between Presidents Aleksandar Vučić and Vladimir Putin. This agreement, which runs until May 31, is under negotiation for a possible extension. Additionally, Serbia is receiving extra gas supplies from the Turkish Stream and Banatski Dvor, and it has storage reserves in Hungary to ensure a stable supply.