"Banatski dvor" storage to be in function by the end of 2010

Banatski dvor, gas storage will be ready for use in the end of 2010, as estimated by the Secretary of Serbian gas association, Vojislav Vuletic.

At the meeting of Energy and Mining Association, of Chamber of commerce of Serbia, Mr.Vuletic said that gas is placed in the storage area during the Summer months, which means that it could not be used in the next Winter season, even if the construction would have been finished by the end of 2009.

Mr.Vuletic also said that Serbia had only one gas entrance near Horgos, and that with construction of "Southern line" gasline, the problems with gas supply would be solved. As he added, the capacity of Banatski dvor storate is 800 million cubic meters, the construction is developed in three phases, and only one phase has been finalized by now.

- At the moment, 5% of daily needs of Serbia is being drawn out from the storage, which is actually 10 million cubic meters. Serbia imports 90% of the gas from Russia, while other needs are settled through domestic production. Earlier, 25% was set by domestic production, but because of the lack of research this percentages dropped, Vuletic said.