Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic stated that Serbia is prepared for winter, but concerns persist regarding the impact of the Ukraine war on gas and electricity prices and availability. She highlighted that gas prices have surged by about 15% in recent weeks, reaching 42 euros/MWh. Additionally, the region faces challenges related to electricity supply, with prices skyrocketing this summer due to resource redirection to support Ukraine.
Given the expectation of a colder winter than last year, Minister Djedovic emphasized the need for a comprehensive analysis of potential scenarios and measures to mitigate price fluctuations and availability issues for energy sources. She pointed out that the construction of the gas interconnection with Bulgaria has laid the groundwork for diversifying supply sources for Serbia and the wider region, as well as the EU.
Serbia is also advancing regional projects, with plans to complete gas connections with Romania and North Macedonia in the coming years, for which memoranda of understanding have already been signed. However, she identified two significant challenges: securing financing, as gas is considered a transitional energy source, and ensuring access to adequate quality gas in sufficient quantities.