Online Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and information from publics.bg

News

World news

20.10.2011 17:19

Serbia Calls for Common Regional Policy on Energy

The country supports the construction of gas pipelines, and as a signatory of the South Stream pipeline project - the construction of gas storehouses

AUTHOR: publics.bg

© Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας@flickr.com

Serbian President Boris Tadic said Monday that countries of the Western Balkans could secure an economic growth and stability only if they pursue a common energy policy, Serbia Energy reported.

Only a common energy policy can help us reduce our dependence on imports of energy-generating products, and contribute to macroeconomic stability of regional countries, Tadic said in an opening address to participants of a regional conference entitled “Energy-Development-Democracy: Shaping a New Energy Future for South-East Europe”.

Tadic said that Serbia is dependent on imports of oil and gas, but that its production of biomass, electricity and coal can service its needs. Alternative energy resources should be granted a special attention so as to reduce our dependence on imports, the president said, drawing attention to the biomass as a particularly interesting resource.

He underlined that Serbia has not yet utilized all its biomass potentials, adding that the Serbian government and competent ministries should draft a strategy for their exploitation.

Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic said that if Serbia used the full potential of its renewable energy resources, which is estimated at 4.2 million tonnes of oil equivalent, it could replace about 60% of its total needs for energy and employ tens of thousands of new workers in the area.

Tadic affirmed Serbia’s support of the construction of gas pipelines, and as a signatory of the South Stream pipeline project - the construction of gas storehouses.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic highlighted today the great financial importance of the regional cooperation in energy sector and stated that Southeast European countries should use the opportunity given by the Connecting Europe Facility worth €50 billion to build necessary infrastructure.