Azerbaijan, Serbia discuss gas supplies, expanded collaboration in oil and petroleum products
BAKU. April 8 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan has doubled gas supplies to Serbia since the launch in 2023, and the two parties are negotiating continued deliveries, Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic-Handanovic posted on social media.
Djedovic-Handanovic on Wednesday in Azerbaijan met with Azerbaijani Finance Minister Sahil Babayev, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and the president of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).
"The amount of natural gas transported from Azerbaijan has doubled since the start of collaboration three years ago. Consultations are ongoing on future energy supplies and the implementation of joint infrastructure projects," Djedovic-Handanovic said.
The press service of the Azerbaijani Finance Ministry said that the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation, including the current state and prospects for developing ties in the energy sector.
"The minister noted that Azerbaijani gas supplies to Serbia via the Bulgaria-Serbia interconnector, which began in 2023, are a significant achievement in the partnership. He also noted that the contract signed in this regard has been extended until the end of 2026, and gas supplies are currently being carried out under it," the Finance Ministry said.
The parties also exchanged views on expanding collaboration in the areas of oil and petroleum products, electricity, and renewable energy.
Djedovic-Handanovic said that she, the Minister of Economy and the representatives of SOCAR discussed further steps and deadlines to construct the gas turbine power plant near the city of Nis in Serbia.
As reported, Baku and Belgrade signed an intergovernmental agreement on February 15, 2026, on constructing a 500-MW gas turbine power plant (GTPP) in Serbia. The project is planned to be implemented on a 50/50 basis. Serbia's Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) and Srbijagas will implement the project jointly with SOCAR. Serbian authorities expect the plant, located near Nis, to be commissioned in 2029.
The parties are currently actively developing collaboration in gas supplies, thus the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Srbijagas signed an agreement on November 15, 2023, on supplying up to 400 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas in 2024-2026, with the possibility to boost supplies starting in 2027.
