Djedovic, Hristov discuss cooperation on natural gas supplies

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic met with Bulgarian Energy Minister Rosen Hristov on Tuesday to discuss the progress of works to build a Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection as well as opportunities for further advancement of regional cooperation when it comes to natural gas supplies.

Djedovic said Serbia had completed 43 pct of the works on its stretch of the interconnection, from Nis to Dimitrovgrad, and noted that this was ahead of schedule, the ministry said in a statement.

"The interconnector is one of the priority projects for the Republic of Serbia because, besides additional supply sources, it brings us an opportunity to strengthen our position as a transit country for gas supplies to countries in the region and central Europe. We expect the works to be completed in the autumn, which is why we have officially opened talks with Azerbaijan about procuring gas from the Caspian region," Djedovic said.

Hristov said Bulgaria, too, fully complied with its part of the plan to build the gas interconnector, and invited Djedovic to a joint visit to the construction sites on both sides of the Serbia-Bulgaria border in the period to come.

Continued control and constant support are very important for ensuring the construction of the gas interconnector goes according to plan, he said.

"We are fully committed to expanding the cooperation between Bulgaria and Serbia in the energy sector while relying on joint interests," Hristov said.

He said expanding the interconnector's capacities as well as coal supplies were some of the fields where an advancement of the cooperation could be considered.