TASS: Gazprom is working on a new gas contract with Serbia.
The Kremlin's energy giant Gazprom has been working on a gas supply contract for Serbia, according to TASS. Alexander Novak, Russia's Deputy Premier was quoted as saying this on Monday.
Serbia, which has historically had close ties with Moscow, but aspires also to join the European Union is heavily dependent on Russia for its natural gas. It has been trying to renew the contract that expired in March.
Since 2021, Russian gas is supplied to Serbia via the TurkStream pipeline through the Black Sea. Last year, Russia supplied around 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Serbia.
Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian President, visited Russia on May 8-9 for a celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany. Novak told TASS that the new gas contract had been discussed during the meeting.
According to Vedomosti, Dusan Bjatovic, CEO of Srbijagas state gas company, said to TV Prva in Belgrade over the weekend, that the new agreement should be signed before May 31, and he expects to visit Moscow to discuss it this week.
Discussions come at a time when the EU is planning to phase out Russian gas by 2027 due to the conflict in Ukraine. (Reporting and editing by Tomasz Janowski, Alexandra Hudson).
(source: Reuters)
