Vucic: Measures for next several months prepared, gas price a bigger problem

BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after a session of an extended National Security Council that addressed the energy situation, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday the current natural gas price of 735 euros per thousand cubic metres was an even bigger problem than the crude oil price, and noted that the government had prepared measures for the next several months.

Vucic said that, without a government intervention, diesel would be priced at 257 dinars per litre, rather than the present 208 dinars.

He added that the price of diesel would rise by just four dinars to 212 dinars on Friday, while a litre of petrol would cost just two dinars more than in the past week.

"Today, we had a National Security Council session at which we discussed the February-March 2026 situation, with particular emphasis on energy security, regional security and political and security challenges, but we also discussed various potential terrorist threats, cyber warfare against Serbia and preparation of our responses," Vucic said.

He said the natural gas price posed the "biggest problem in the global market."

"It is the highest gas price in the past three and a half years, unprecedented since the last energy crisis," Vucic said.

He added that this meant that, in view of the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as tensions resulting from closures of oil and gas pipelines and other issues, the government would take both short- and long-term measures.

"We will be looking to ensure the measures are not painful for our citizens," he said, adding that the measures had been prepared.

Vucic also said Serbia had sufficient quantities of fuel and that a full level of supply was not in question.

He said 40,000 tonnes of crude oil would be released from state reserves to soften the blow of the fuel crisis on the national budget and state finances.

Vucic: Security around Zabari gas compressor station to remain heightened

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday security around a natural gas compressor station in Zabari, eastern Serbia, was heightened due to the current situation and conflicts in the world, and noted that, that way, Serbia was also guaranteeing secure gas supply to Hungary and Slovakia.

The compressor station is a part of a pipeline carrying gas from Turkey to Hungary.

At a press conference after a National Security Council session on the energy situation, Vucic said that, with reconnaissance drones, the Serbian Armed Forces had kept the station well secured in the past as well, but that security had now been boosted.

"We had received some intelligence information before, but given the significance of the compressor station, imagine if someone blew up our compressor station now. Anyone, using anything.This way, we have devices that can shoot down drones," Vucic said.

"We are well equipped and we can stop a great many of cruise missiles as well," Vucic said, adding that security around the Zabari station would remain heightened for the duration of the war conflicts. "Serbia will safeguard peace and everyone in the region should know Serbia is no threat to them, but we will be protecting our country," Vucic said.