Serbia to get new gas supply route – Greece announces agreement on Vertical Gas Corridor in autumn

Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou said that it was very likely that agreements would be signed with operators from North Macedonia and Serbia in September on participation in the “Vertical Gas Corridor”. This is a strategic international project that connects the gas pipeline infrastructure of the countries of Southeastern and Central Europe for gas supply via Greece, with an emphasis on terminals for receiving liquefied natural gas.

In an interview with the Greek TV channel Antena, Papastavrou reminded about the meeting in mid-May in Athens of the energy ministers of North Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, at which it was decided to expand the “Vertical Gas Corridor”.

He added, as reported by the MIA agency, that the corridor had also been discussed on July 10 in Athens at a meeting of representatives of the Greek natural gas transmission operator DESFA, transmission system operators from the countries of the Vertical Corridor, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as the companies Gastrade and ICGB.

– Both Serbia and North Macedonia came to the ministerial meeting that we held and expressed their desire to participate. Ten days ago, we met here again with the operators, and in September it is very likely that agreements will be signed with the operators from North Macedonia and Serbia on their participation in the Vertical Corridor – said Papastavrou.

He said that Greece was already the energy hub of the region, explaining that previously six billion cubic meters of natural gas would enter the country, all intended for consumption, and that now “17 billion cubic meters enter, six of which remain while 11 go up,” to the north.

– In this way, our country has taken advantage of its geographical position between continents and become a geopolitical power. It will not happen overnight, but the Vertical Corridor is already a reality – stressed Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou.

Gastrade

ICGB

Stavros Papastavrou

Vertical Gas Corridor