Serbia aims to become major gas transit hub in Balkans

Serbia plans to strengthen its role in the regional energy architecture and become one of the main gas transit hubs in the Balkans, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Serbia's Minister of Mining and Energy, stated at the Energy Transition Summit in Athens, Report informs via Serbian media outlets.

She emphasized Belgrade's intention to expand the national gas transmission system and enhance infrastructure connectivity between the region and European energy markets.

The minister noted that the Balkan Peninsula's gas and electricity sectors need deeper integration with Europe, requiring new investments and infrastructure projects to improve energy security.

Đedović Handanović highlighted ongoing projects, including a gas interconnector with North Macedonia and Greece, and announced plans to allocate €1.2 billion for the development of gas infrastructure and increasing the capacity of regional transit routes through Serbia.

Belgrade's goal is to raise gas transit volumes to 20–25 billion cubic meters per year. Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut recently stated that the country intends to diversify energy supply sources in the coming years and may join the Vertical Gas Corridor project, which envisions LNG supplies from Greece to Central and Eastern Europe.

This project is seen as a crucial alternative supply route for the region, especially after the planned termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine in January 2025.