The adoption of the law by which Bulgaria introduces a 30 percent tax on the transit of Russian gas through its territory caused panic in the markets of Serbia, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Its application, after the recent one of close to five percent, would cause an extraordinary increase in the price of gas, and as the director of the “Prvo gasno drustvo” from Zvornik Dusan Kozic told reporters, the transit margin would cause additional costs of 120 dollars per 1.000 cubic meters of gas.
Official announcement
“It is necessary to emphasize that the contract of “Energoinvest” with “Gazprom Export” foresees the obligation of “Gazprom Export” to deliver gas at the Zvornik parity, which implies that “Gazprom” must have signed long-term gas transport contracts with state transporters, including the Bulgarian one,” the company “Energoinvest” stated, a gas supplier for BiH.
They emphasize that “Gazprom Export” has not yet received an official announcement of the increase in transport costs, but also that the cost of transporting gas through Bulgaria is only one of the cost items.
“It participates with a lower percentage in the total price, so even if the increase in gas transportation costs through Bulgaria is made official, it would participate in the final price of gas with a tenfold lower percentage,” the company states.
Energy expert and member of the ReSET Center for Sustainable Energy Transition Ognjen Markovic agrees with the recommendations that due to the uncertainty in the supply and price of gas BiH should have an alternative source of supply.
Towards Croatia
“The alternative direction should be a priority direction that ensures supply from another source. The eastern interconnection is the same source for now, but the southern one would go towards another source, that is, Krk and Croatia,” says Markovic.
He mentioned that the annual consumption of gas in BiH is almost 200 million cubic meters, which is incomparable compared to Serbia, which uses close to three billion, and is directed mainly to the Canton Sarajevo (CS).
Interest of investors
The new laws on renewable sources have opened up new opportunities and resulted in great interest from investors, especially in the construction of solar power plants.
“It is necessary to pass a state law on the transmission, regulator, and operator of the electricity and natural gas system in BiH, which has been in the process for several years. This law would enable the formation of an electricity exchange because without it it is difficult to efficiently integrate renewable sources,” Markovic concluded.
