"Gazprom" to make decision about gas pipeline through Serbia prior to October

The decision of Russian "Gazprom" on whether the transnational gas pipeline will pass through Serbia should be expected to be made prior to October 2007 - said energy expert Zorana Mihajlović-Milanović. She pointed out that it is most likely that that gas pipeline would be built across the Balkans and estimated that the most profitable and the most economic solution to "Gazprom" was to have it built in Serbia.

- The decision of "Gazprom" will be influenced by the agreement signed two weeks ago by Italy, Greece and Turkey about construction of gas pipeline, which will be used for transport of gas from the Caspian basin and is also direct rival to Russian gas pipeline - said Zorana Mihajlović-Milanović and added that Serbia could hardly have any influence on the final decision of "Gazprom".

According to her words, depending on the chosen locations through which that gas pipeline should pass, Serbia will have to make some very important decisions regarding completion of construction of gas storage in Banatski Dvor and gas pipeline Niš - Dimitrovgrad.