Page 11 - EurOil Week 22 2022

EurOil NEWS IN BRIEF EurOil

BSOG reportedly to kick off gas the EU sanctions it deepens cooperation Corridor and other topics related to energy
and the economy.
with Russia. Until when the EU will tolerate
production in Romania’s Black this?” Blerim Vela, chief of cabinet of Kosovo’s
President Vjosa Osmani, said in a tweet on
Sea on June 28 May 30. Croatia ready to increase
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and
Black Sea Oil and Gas (BSOG), which is Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Adriatic oil pipeline’s
working on the most advanced of several Mihajlovic said that the agreement on gas
offshore gas projects in Romania, will begin supply reached by Vucic with Putin was a capacity by 30%
production at its shallow waters perimeter great result for Serbia’s security and economic
Midia in Romania’s Black Sea on June 28, growth. Croatia could increase the capacity of its oil
according to sources familiar with the event Kosovo unilaterally declared independence pipeline operator Janaf by 30% to supply
consulted by Economica.net. from Serbia in 2008, but their relations are still Hungary and Slovakia with crude oil in case
Earlier this year, the company, controlled tense as Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo of disruption to deliveries from Russia, N1
by US fund Carlyle, had announced its as an independent state. Moscow backs reported on May 31.
intentions to resort to international mediation Serbia’s position on Kosovo. The information follows the European
to remove regulatory constraints – but Commission’s decision to impose partial
lawmakers have since passed amendments to embargo, covering crude oil, as well as
the Offshore Law, allowing the project to go Serbia and Azerbaijan sign petroleum products, delivered from Russia to
ahead. member states, with a temporary exception
Some tests were carried out last week and energy cooperation agreement for crude oil delivered by pipeline.
only some more permits are needed before Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic
starting operations, sources said. The governments of Serbia and Azerbaijan said that the increase of Janaf’s capacity would
Oil rig Ana was installed on the deposit signed an agreement on cooperation in the cost €8mn and can be done within 20 to 30
with the same name, 120 km from the energy sector during Serbian Minister of days.
seashore, in a place where the depth of the Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic’s Janaf currently transports 11.4mn tonnes
water is 70 metres. visit to Baku on June 1. of crude oil annually.
The estimated production capacity will be Serbia recently agreed a new gas supply Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister
1bn cubic metres of gas per year, equivalent to deal with Russia on favourable terms, Peter Szijjarto has requested an urgent
10% of Romania’s gas consumption. but at the same time Belgrade is looking meeting with Croatian Economy Minister
to diversify its gas imports, including Davor Filipovic, N1 reported. Szijjarto wants
importing Azeri gas via an interconnector to discuss oil and gas imports by Janaf’s
Kosovo criticises Serbia for with Bulgaria, due to be completed in 2023. pipeline to Hungarian energy group MOL’s
Mihajlovic said the priorities for
refineries, which now receive Russian oil via
deepening Russia ties with cooperation in the energy sector are gas the Druzba pipeline.
and the energy transition. According to the

new gas agreement minister, the agreement will additionally
strengthen cooperation, primarily in the
Kosovan officials reacted critically after Serbia gas sector, given that the Southern Gas Bulgaria gets exemption
and Russia reached a new three-year gas Corridor is important for the supply of from Russian oil import ban
supply deal under which Serbia will obtain the whole of Europe, and diversification
Russian gas at a favourable price, despite the of routes and suppliers, the Serbian Bulgaria is getting exemption from the EU-
EU sanctions on Russia. government said in a statement. wide ban on imports of Russian oil by ship
On May 29, Serbian President Aleksandar The deputy prime minister pointed out until 2024, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said
Vucic spoke by phone with his Russian peer that Serbia has started construction of its on May 31.
Vladimir Putin, with whom he said he had gas interconnection with Bulgaria, which Late on May 30, the European Council
agreed on an extremely favourable gas price will be completed next year, and which agreed to the partial embargo, covering crude
for Serbia. Vucic agreed with Putin on a will enable the country to receive gas from oil, as well as petroleum products, delivered
new three-year contract for the supply of Azerbaijan. from Russia to EU member states, with a
gas to Serbia, with the price of gas calculated “We expect that by activating new temporary exception for crude oil delivered by
according to the oil formula, ranging from deposits, in which reserves of natural gas pipeline.
$310 to $408 per thousand cubic metres. in the Caspian region have been confirmed, Bulgaria will be allowed to import crude
The price is much lower than that Serbia will secure additional quantities oil for its sole oil refinery, Lukoil Neftochim,
charged to most other European countries of natural gas for its needs, and that it based near the port of Burgas.
— Moldova, for example, is paying $910 per will become a transit route by building Petkov said that Bulgaria was the sole
thousand cubic metres in May — reflecting the gas interconnection, by which we will country to get a derogation.
Belgrade’s decision not to impose sanctions on additionally increase stability and security Bulgaria is putting a lot of efforts in
Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. of our country and the region,” she stated. diversifying its energy supplies to reduce its
“They don’t even have to meet anymore Mihajlovic said the agreement opens dependency on Russia.
as agreements between Putin and Vucic are space for cooperation in electricity, talking Petkov said that Bulgaria is at an advanced
now reached through phone conversations,” on improving energy efficiency and stage of talks with the US on the import of
Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti said in a tweet. exchanging experiences, technologies and liquified natural gas (LNG) from the US and
“Putin and Vucic agreed in a phone call investments in renewable energy sources. Egypt and that the country will become a
that Russia will continue supplying natural Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz centre for deliveries to the whole region.
gas to Serbia and that the two countries Shahbazov said the meeting was an
will bolster their partnership. Serbia, an EU “excellent opportunity” to discuss future
candidate country, instead of aligning with joint activities concerning the Southern Gas

Week 22 02•June•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11