Serbia is currently assessing the feasibility of a gas pipeline that would connect it with Croatia and the LNG terminal on Krk. This project, estimated to cost around €60 million, aims for completion by 2031. The renewed interest follows confirmation from Croatian officials regarding plans for a connection to Serbia, which has garnered attention from Serbian authorities.
Despite including the Croatia interconnector in its strategic energy plans, Serbia is prioritizing gas links with Romania and North Macedonia. The national energy infrastructure development plan, which extends through 2028 and projects to 2030, also outlines the Croatia connection with similar cost and timeline estimates.
The proposed Serbian segment of the pipeline would cover approximately 95 kilometers, extending from the Gospodjinci hub to the border near Backo Novi Selo. While Serbian officials have acknowledged that the project is under review, they are proceeding with caution due to past complications related to oil transit via JANAF. Analysts emphasize that although new interconnections can bolster energy security, the Krk terminal’s capacity is limited to 6 billion cubic meters per year, already servicing Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This raises concerns about the volume available for Serbia.
While diversification of energy sources is generally seen as advantageous if costs are kept reasonable, evaluations indicate that gas sourced from Krk may not significantly enhance Serbia’s overall supply balance. The relatively high costs associated with LNG mean that any surplus from the Krk terminal is primarily intended for resale rather than direct supply to Serbia.
Current assessments suggest that Serbia should maintain its existing gas infrastructure strategy. The connection with Romania is viewed as more strategic due to its reliance on Black Sea production, while a link with North Macedonia would provide an additional route alongside Bulgaria to access the larger-capacity LNG terminal in Alexandroupoli. Meanwhile, TurkStream continues to be Serbia’s primary source of gas, effectively meeting domestic demand at competitive prices and through reliable infrastructure. There remains skepticism regarding Europe’s long-term capability to completely phase out Russian gas supplies.
Official projections estimate that constructing the Romania interconnector will require approximately €12 million, while the planned link to North Macedonia is valued at around €42 million.
