site.btaBulgaria, Serbia to Cooperate in Achieving Energy Security in Region

Sofia, July 11 (BTA) - Bulgaria and Serbia will cooperate in achieving energy security in the region, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and her Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Antic agreed, Petkova's Ministry reported Tuesday.

The two ministers discussed during the meeting projects in the energy sector of mutual interest, and the Bulgaria-Serbia gas interconnector. A memorandum of understanding was signed this January in Sofia between the two countries' energy ministries on a project for the construction of a Bulgaria-Serbia gas interconnector, the press release said.

Minister Petkova has informed Antic about the development of the project for the construction of the Balkan gas hub on Bulgaria's territory. The hub will ensure diversification of natural gas sources and routes and will guarantee the development of the natural gas market in the region. Additional gas could be supplied through it from new sources, such as the Southern Gas Corridor, Turkish Stream, LNG terminals leading to Serbia and other countries, the Energy Ministry said.

Petkova and Antic underscored that the development of bilateral relations in the energy sector will be in unison with EU law. A memorandum was also signed between Bulgargaz EAD and Srbijagas, which provides for the two companies to study the possibilities for developing the natural gas transmission systems in the two countries.