Bajatovic: There will be no gas crisis - deal with Russia due soon, there is option B

BELGRADE - Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said on Thursday he expected a new natural gas arrangement with Russia to be agreed soon and that "Option B" also existed - purchasing gas from traders in the market.

Serbia's stocks are also high and there will be no gas crisis whatsoever, Bajatovic told Prva TV.

"There will be no gas crisis whatsoever, since we have Option A - a contract with Russia, which I expect to materialise soon. There is also Option B - buying from traders in the market," he said.

"Thirdly, by substituting a portion of fuels with mazut - above all, here in Belgrade - you can, say, conserve three million cubic metres of gas a day, which is not a small quantity at all," Bajatovic said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said two days ago that, unless it was given a gas deal with Russia by Friday, Serbia would, as early as on Monday, start talks about buying gas elsewhere.