The long-awaited expansion of the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility has officially commenced. This expansion is crucial for ensuring a secure gas supply, especially considering the growing demand in both industry and households.
Banatski Dvor is currently the only gas storage facility in Serbia, and its capacity is set to be doubled. The expansion will involve the addition of 12 new wells, with the procurement of necessary equipment already contracted. The facility is jointly owned by Srbijagas and Gazprom. Dubravka Đedović Handanović, the Minister of Mining and Energy in the technical mandate, announced that the total investment for this project is 145 million euros.
“The storage capacity will be increased to 750 million cubic meters of gas. Until now, Serbia has been using Banatski Dvor’s existing storage and additional capacity from warehouses in Hungary. This investment will significantly improve our domestic gas reserves, allowing us to better respond to unforeseen situations,” said Đedović Handanović.
Dušan Bajatović, the director of Srbijagas, stated that financial resources for the expansion have been secured with the support of the Serbian government through Srbijagas.
“The project will be financed via credit, with minimal impact on tariffs for end consumers, which is a favorable outcome. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. NIS will handle the wells, while the rest of the work will be carried out in cooperation with our Russian partners, as well as European and American equipment suppliers,” Bajatović added.
In addition to the steady supply of Russian gas through the Balkan Stream, Serbia is also receiving gas from Azerbaijan.
“We are committed to diversifying our gas supply sources. The completion of the interconnection between Serbia and Bulgaria was an important step, and we will continue expanding our network with projects involving North Macedonia and Romania, including additional gas storage,” said Đedović Handanović. While European countries are seeking new gas sources, Brussels has announced that by the end of the month, EU member states will begin filling their storage facilities for the next winter season. Despite falling oil prices, gas prices remain high due to strong demand.
