At the ninth sitting, the Industry Committee members discussed the Information on the current situation in Serbia’s energy sector.

The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Milorad Buha and attended by the Minister of Energy and Mining, Petar Skundric and PC “Srbijagas” director and MP Dusan Bajatovic.

Minister Skundric outlined the Information on the current situation in Serbia’s energy sector for the Committee members. In his address he stressed that the energy crisis ends today and thanked all who participated in the process of overcoming the crisis stemming from the stoppage of natural gas delivery due to a dispute between the Russian and Ukrainian side. The Minister added that, in line with a Government decision, for the duration of the crisis in gas delivery to domestic consumers, natural gas in remote heating systems was replaced by other energy-generating products. The production of a sufficient amount of electrical power and mazut was agreed, and there were no breakdowns or shut-offs during this period. The Minister also pointed out that the state has proved that it can act responsibly in crisis situations. He also concluded that the crisis has demonstrated that Serbia needs to increase its energy reserves.

PC “Srbijagas” director and MP Dusan Bajatovic explained the cost of the interventional amounts of natural gas imported from Hungary and Germany between 8 and 19 January of the year. The total of 53,350,046 m3 of gas was imported, 24,000,000 m3 of which came from Hungary and 29,350,046 m3 from Germany. 13,056,000 dollars were paid for the amount imported from Hungary. The cost of gas delivery from Germany was 10,859,571 euros, out of which 9,063,093 euros have been paid so far and 1,796,424 euros remain to be paid.

In the debate, the Committee members discussed the damages Serbian citizens and economy suffered during the gas delivery stoppage, the responsibility for the damages incurred and Serbia’s possible lawsuit against the agents of the crisis, the announcement of a new rise in the price of gas on the domestic market, the development of Banatski Dvor natural gas storage facility, as well as the measures the Government of the Republic of Serbia is implementing to alleviate the consequences of the non-delivery of gas to Serbia.