Djedovic Handanovic: Gas interconnector with Bulgaria to boost energy security

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said Sunday's launch of a Serbia-Bulgaria natural gas interconnector made it possible to diversify gas supply sources and boost Serbia's energy security.

"We have made it physically possible to get gas from various sources, gas coming from Azerbaijan, from the Caspian region as well as the LNG terminal at Alexandroupolis, besides Russian gas from the Balkan Stream gas pipeline," a statement released by the Ministry of Mining and Energy quoted Djedovic Handanovic as saying.

She said the gas interconnector had great international relevance and gave Serbia a major transit position on the European gas map.

"The gas pipeline's capacity can potentially be increased from 1.8 bln cubic metres of gas a year to 3.2 bln, which is very important given that our gas needs would increase significantly by the end of the decade," the minister said in an appearance on Pink TV.

She noted that supplies of up to 400 bln cubic metres of natural gas a year until 2026 had been agreed with Azerbaijan in Baku a month ago and that the quantity could be increased by up to three times afterwards.