Djedović Handanović in Baku: Gas will also arrive in Serbia from Azerbaijan, with contracted deliveries of up to 400 million cubic meters of gas per year

"Serbia and Azerbaijan maintain strategic cooperation, owing to the friendly relations and mutual respect between the two presidents, Aleksandar Vučić and Ilham Aliyev. By signing this Memorandum today, we have deepened bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Azerbaijan in the field of energy and ensured the supply of gas from this country in quantities of up to 400 million cubic meters of gas per year until 2026, while after that period, we can supply up to one billion cubic meters of gas from this country," said Djedović Handanović, following the signing of the Memorandum and the commercial contract in the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan.

The Minister stated that after completing the construction of the gas interconnection with Bulgaria, Serbia will have Azerbaijan as another gas supplier.

"Following the completion of the Balkan Stream gas pipeline, which has provided additional security and opened a new route of supply, we are now achieving the strategic goal of diversifying suppliers and further strengthening our position as a transit country for supplying gas to the countries of Central Europe. "We expect the completion of the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection in the coming days, which will also fulfill the infrastructural prerequisites for a new source of gas supply," she said.

Djedović Handanović added that the signed Memorandum opens up other possibilities for cooperation between the two countries. These possibilities include the delivery of liquefied natural gas through LNG terminals in Turkey and Greece, as well as potential cooperation on the development of capacities for the construction of gas power plants and gas storage facilities.

She reminded that all projections indicate that Serbia's needs for natural gas will grow during this decade, i.e. that the total consumption of gas is expected to increase from around three billion cubic meters in 2022 to around four billion cubic meters by 2030. "The Memorandum and the contract signed today enable us to rely on larger volumes of gas and additional suppliers, improving the security of the supply of our citizens and the economy. Additionally, after completing the gas interconnector to Bulgaria, we plan new interconnections, primarily to North Macedonia," added Djedović Handanović.

The Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazov, stated that with the help of strategically important documents signed today, the basis for multilateral cooperation in the field of gas was established, including, for the first time, the delivery of gas from Azerbaijan to Serbia.

"Serbia is a new partner of Azerbaijan in diversifying the gas market in Europe. With gas deliveries to Serbia totaling up to 400 million cubic meters per year, the number of countries supplied with Azerbaijani gas has increased to eight. This is a clear indication that Azerbaijan is expanding its mission and playing the role of a reliable energy partner, contributing more significantly to energy security. "Today's agreements also pave the way for the establishment of a sustainable partnership in the field of gas supply, in accordance with long-term contracts and Azerbaijan's contribution to Serbia's energy security," said Shahbazov.

By the end of the visit to the Azerbaijani capital, in addition to the bilateral meeting with Azerbaijani Minister Parviz Shahbazov, which took place this morning, the Minister of Mining and Energy is scheduled to participate in the Second Forum on Sustainable Development in Baku, held today.