Serbia is planning to invest EUR 9 B in its energy sector. Map by ems.co.yu
Bulgaria's neighbor to the west, Serbia, is starting a new program providing for EUR 9 B of investments in its energy sector.
The sum is supposed to be invested in the country in the next 5-6 years, B92 has reported.
The planned investments are for boosting Serbia's oil industry, two thermal power plants - Kolubara B and Nikola Tesla B3, and for the construction of a new natural gas station at Novi Sad, and potentially in New Belgrade.
"With the realization of the South Stream gas transit pipeline project, Serbia will have plenty of natural gas, and is going to construct several power plants to produce electricity. The country will have a surplus of electricity, and will become an electricity exporter", the Serbian Energy and Mines Minister, Petar Skundric is quoted as saying, BGNES reported.
Skundric also said he expected serious investments as a result of Serbia's strategic energy partnership with Italy, and that Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Cuba had also expressed their interest in energy cooperation with Serbia.