The fate of the “Turkish stream” is questionable. Serbia wants to reduce dependence on Russian gas and intends to support the construction of the pipe from Azerbaijan, that “it is important for the US partners.” However, the Azerbaijani gas is distributed between Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. According to experts, if the Serbs are not defined its position on the “Turkish stream,” they risk being left without any gas.
Serbian Prime Minister Alexander Vucic announced its intention to reduce its dependence on gas supplies from Russia and support the project pipeline that goes to Europe gas from Azerbaijan (Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, TAP).
«We are ready to diversify gas deliveries to Serbia, which is very important for our American partners,” – the words Vucic Associated Press.
Earlier, the US urged the Balkan country to withdraw from the Russian gas pipeline project “Turkish Stream” in favor of TAP. US State Department Special Envoy for Energy Amos Hokshtayn during a recent visit to Greece noted that diversification of supply – the best way to ensure their safety and gas should be obtained from sources other than Russian, at least to create competition.
The share of Russian gas in the consumption of Serbia is about 75%. Last year, the Serbs have bought 1.36 billion cubic meters of Russian gas. Under the current agreement from 2012, until 2021 deliveries may be increased up to 5 billion cubic meters a year.
«Turkish Stream” Russia has decided to build after was forced to abandon a similar project “South Stream” because of opposition from the European Commission. Trumpet “of the Turkish stream” should pass under the Black Sea and Turkey to the Turkish-Greek border. Further European countries themselves must build the necessary infrastructure (in contrast to the UP project which suggests that construction on the territory of each country will be engaged in a joint venture, where 50% will belong to “Gazprom”). Power “of the Turkish stream” should reach 63 billion cubic meters, with 14 billion cubic meters will be delivered to Turkey itself.
Serbia over the “Turkish Stream” expressed several times, and every time sounded different positions.
In February, Vice-President of the Democratic Party of Milan Lapchevich said that Serbia supports the project and hopes to receive Russian gas at “Turkish Stream”, since it “will enable Serbia to become an important part of the gas transportation system and gain from the project’s energy and economic benefits.”
However, in early May, the President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, said that his country would build a pipe TP in its territory is not going and does not want the pipeline to pass through it, even if the construction will take someone else.
«The implementation of” Turkish stream “on the territory of Serbia can not – then said Nikolic. – And with this in mind, we will not buy gas ».
Later, however, Nikolic said that Serbia is” undecided “with his attitude towards the Russian project and the” need to await the decision of the European Union ” .
A week after the announcement Nikolic, May 15, the head of the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic after talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, he said that Serbia is interested in “Turkish stream.”
Dacic stressed that Serbia is now only receives Russian gas through Ukraine, and this the route planned shut – “Gazprom” does not intend to renew the transit contract with Ukraine, which expires in 2019.
It is significant that “Srbijagas” in favor of laying “the Turkish stream.” CEO Dusan Bajatovic at the annual meeting of the European Business Congress, said that the European Union should not put the administrative ban on the construction of gas pipelines because of mistrust toward Russia.
«Because of the lack of infrastructure for the supply of gas in South-East Europe is to big problems. And I hope that EU leaders will think about it “, – said Bajatovic.
According to the deputy head of the National Energy Security Fund Alexei Grivach Serbs pretend to be offended by Russia because of the refusal of the “South Stream”, but this project was canceled just because the leadership of the countries through which should pass tube (including Serbia), enough to firmly defend its position before the European Commission.
«If Serbia would continue to” follow in the footsteps of “it could end badly for her,” – warns an expert.
Grivach explains that deliveries from Azerbaijan, first, reached the planned volume of 10 billion cubic meters only closer to 2025, and most importantly – these volumes have already been distributed. Most (8 billion cubic meters) will receive Italy, still to 1 billion cubic meters – Greece and Bulgaria.
However, in Serbia there are other reasons to take offense at Russia. For example, in November last year “Gazprom” cut off supplies to Serbia by 28%. This was stated by the head of the Serbian Energy Minister Alexander Antic. According to him, this was due to the debt of the Serbian side for gas in the amount of $ 224 million. By the way, Serbia in the second half of last year was not the only country which complained of “Gazprom” on this issue. A decrease in supply as claimed Slovakia and Poland.
However, the sources “Gazety.Ru” close to “Gazprom”, explained at the time that it is not about reducing the supply, and the refusal to supply gas to Russian monopoly over the contracted volumes. “Gazprom” did not want to supply additional gas to exclude the possibility of reverse gas supplies to Ukraine.
It is possible that, maneuvering between Russia, the EU and the US, and not giving a clear answer on the “Turkish Stream”, Serbia is simply trying to get a better deal on Russian gas supplies. Alexander Antic said on Thursday that the Serbian side expects to benefit from a discount on Russian gas, “uses every opportunity to fight for a better position their companies».
According to the Antic, the discount is necessary in the first place chemical companies, do not use gas as a fuel and as a raw material. According to Alexei Grivach, now the price of deliveries to Serbia is about $ 280 per 1 thousand. Cubic meters.
By the way, before experts said that the route “of the Turkish stream” in general can get around Serbia and Macedonia, which on Wednesday said it will participate in the project only if the EU and Russia agreed on the construction of the pipe. Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski at the same time pointed out that his country will focus on all the same Azeri gas.
Instead of laying pipe in Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary to an Austrian gas hub Baumgarten “Gazprom” may prefer a different route – through Turkey, Greece and Italy with the release the same Baumgarten.
This was partially resuscitation pipeline project ITGI (Interconnector Turkey – Greece – Italy, abandoned by another in 2012). Especially here already have a shareholder – Edison, the Italian “daughter” of the French Electricite de France, which was engaged in ITGI from the outset.
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