The Serbia-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector inagurated today, ensuring the diversification of supply sources, greater energy security and Serbia's important position on the gas map of Europe

Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedović Handanović emphasized the significance of the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector as a crucial international project that, for the first, not only diversifies Serbia's sources of natural gas supply but also establishes a new supply route for our country and Central-Eastern Europe.

"This marks a significant day for the relations between Serbia, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, representing a crucial international project to supply gas to Serbia and Central-Eastern Europe from Azerbaijan and other sources, including the LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, Greece. Despite the project having been in the planning for many years, we successfully completed all the works within just one year and promptly finalized the agreement about all the details of gas deliveries with our friends from Azerbaijan. In the future, we will have the capacity to receive additional volumes of gas from this country through the territory of Bulgaria. The countries that have proven most resilient in the energy crisis and have weathered it more effectively are precisely those with diverse sources of supply. This gas pipeline ensures additional sources and routes of supply, complementing the Balkan Stream gas pipeline, which was completed in the midst of the pandemic," she stated.

The Minister expressed gratitude to all the workers and contractors who, with their diligence, completed the construction of 109 kilometers of gas pipelines on time. "On August 10, there was nothing in this place." We aimed to ensure a better supply of gas and additional quantities already this heating season. We are thankful for the financial support and donation from the European Union in the amount of 49 million euros, however thanks to a stable budget we also allocated our own funds for the realization of this project. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, had the vision and desire to complete this project on time and to strengthen connections with neighboring Bulgaria and our friends from Azerbaijan," she added.

In November, Serbia signed an interconnection agreement with Bulgartransgas and a commercial agreement for the supply of up to 400 million cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan until the end of 2024. As Minister Djedović Handanović previously announced, "From Azerbaijan, we can obtain up to 400 million cubic meters of gas per year until 2026, while from 2027, those quantities can increase up to three times."

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated that the commissioning of the interconnector will contribute to the development of Serbia and enhance energy security not only in Serbia but also throughout Europe. "Today's ceremony is a celebration of friendship and partnership, I want to congratulate the presidents of Serbia and Bulgaria." The gas pipeline will enhance the energy security of Serbia and Bulgaria, as well as Europe," Aliyev said.

He added that Azerbaijan, having found a partner in Serbia, expanded its area for gas export. "We have exported gas to eight countries, and now Serbia is the ninth country to which we will export gas. All of these are European countries, and today's commissioning of the interconnector will contribute to the improvement of European energy security," said Aliyev.

Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Vučić for the invitation and the opportunity to visit Serbia again, which he described as beautiful. He also emphasized that after last year's visit, Vučić visited Azerbaijan just a month later, and that this testifies to the rapid development of relations between the two countries. .

"We are strategic partners and we have signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Through our actions, we confirm our commitment to what we signed. I want to emphasize that my personal relations and friendship with Aleksandar have contributed to our development," said the President of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev assessed that under the leadership of Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia is pursuing an independent policy and experiencing development.

"Serbia is following an independent policy, and it is a policy that serves the interests of the Serbian people and us as friends. We are delighted with his achievements and support our bilateral agenda with concrete actions on the ground. I am convinced that the commissioning of the interconnector will contribute to the industrial development of Serbia because I know that the President of Serbia has huge plans for the industrial development of your country," Alijev said.

Aliyev added that by 2027, Azerbaijan will double its gas exports to Europe, and it is resolutely moving towards that goal. "We reached an export of more than eight billion cubic meters, and this year it will be more than 12 billion," Aliyev said, adding that it will account for 50 percent of exports worldwide. 

The President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, stated that the commissioning of the gas interconnector between Serbia and Bulgaria is changing the energy map of Europe. "Because the interconnector represents a guarantee for the diversification and security of supply not only for our two countries but for the entire region, and it is no coincidence that the European Commission recognized it as a project of mutual interest," said Radev.

Radev pointed out that the interconnector is much more than connecting our national gas networks. "The Serbia-Bulgaria interconnector represents much more than an infrastructure project, it is a symbol of growing technological capacities in our countries, a symbol of successful and fruitful cooperation between Serbia, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan.

Cooperation leading to the long-term sustainable economic growth of our region is an expression of our will to build our European future together. It is an indicator of the European Union's ambitious vision for safe and reliable energy sources," the Bulgarian president emphasized.