ENERGY 2021
NIŠ-SOFIA GAS PIPELINE
ROAD TO GREATER ENERGY SECURITY The new Niš-Sofia gas pipeline is a key part of Serbia’s broader strategy to complete the ongoing liberalisation of the gas sector, but also an important element of Serbia’s progress on accession negotiations with the EU. The new gas interconnector will contribute considerably to energy security and a cleaner environment in Serbia.
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erbia is finally set to tackle the security of its gas supply and the diversification of supply routes and suppliers. This change comes with the construction of the Serbian section of the 171-kilometre natural gas interconnector between Serbia and Bulgaria. When it becomes operational in 2023, this new development will handle about two billion cubic metres of gas per year, thus contributing to the diversification of energy sources for Serbia and the region. Furthermore, it will ensure a stable energy supply that respects the environment and encourage the liberalisation of the market and investments.
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The Niš-Sofia gas pipeline will contribute to the diversification of energy sources in Serbia and the Western Balkan region, as well as reducing dependency on a single dominant supplier The project is considered a priority project for the European Union and the Central and South-Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity (CESEC) initiative. The EU Delegation to Serbia is actively facilitating progress on this priority project, in close contact with
the Serbian authorities. Indeed, Bulgaria and Serbia already linked their gas networks at the end of 2020, with the idea of securing supplies of Russian gas from the TurkStream pipeline as of 2021. The 170km Bulgaria-Serbia interconnector, construction of which is set to start during 2021, is a separate project that provides Serbia with a non-Russian supply option. It will therefore contribute to diversifying energy sources in Serbia and the Western Balkan region, while reducing dependency on a single dominant supplier. Energy security and supply reliability are imperatives for EU Member States and
