Memorandum of understanding for construction of capital gas pipeline from Russia to Italy to be signed on December 20

- The signing of the Memorandum of understanding for the construction of the transit gas pipeline through Serbia, schedulled for December 20, is the proof that Serbia is an unavoidable territory for the supply of Russian fuels to Europe - the Assistant Minister of Energy, Slobodan Sokolović, stated.

He said that partnership between Serbia and Russia in the construction of gas pipelines, almost 400 km in length and with the capacity of 20 billion cubic meters of gas a year, was one of the first topics at the work meeting of the Delegation of the Government of Serbia, which was led by the Minister of Economy, Predrag Bubalo, with the Minister of Civil Defense and Emergency Situations and the co-President of the Partnership Committee of Serbia and Russia, Sergej Šojgu.

That alternative gas pipeline for the supply of Russian gas to European market, through "Blue Stream" (the gas pipeline that already functions from Russia, the Black Sea and Turkey to Central Bulgaria), would also include Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, to the connection with the Italian gas system, that is, European gas structure.

Sokolović pointed out that the signing of the Memorandum was the step towards recognitiion of importance of Serbia as the route for supply of fuels, which instills optimism and possibility of the talks in the near future about the project for construction of gas pipeline from Konstanze to Trieste.

The Memorandum will be signed on December 20 in Moscow by Minister Radomir Naumov and, on that occasion, the structure of the task force will be determined, which should elaborate the justification and feasibility studies for the gas pipeline for a very short time. In case of the positive decision, the signing of the obligatory agreements would follow.