The gas market and electricity production, supply of motor vehicles with gas, South Stream, and the exploration and development of new oil and gas fields in Croatia are key topics discussed in the first part of the meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Russian energy giant Gazprom.
– The Croatian gas market has been liberalized in recent years, and I believe that serious discussions with one of the leading companies in the gas business are necessary. Gazprom wants to be part of the gas market in Croatia – stated the Minister of Economy Ivan Vrdoljak after the meeting, adding that a working group will be established to continue discussions.
He also reminded that Gazprom’s gas has arrived at Kutina’s Petrokemija, which signed a contract for the supply of 130 million Sm3 of natural gas with the most favorable bidder, Prvo plinarsko društvo from Vukovar (on behalf of GAZPROM Schweiz AG), at a price 20 percent lower than what Petrokemija had before.
– I believe that future cooperation between Gazprom and the Government will also bring opportunities for the Croatian industry to become more competitive and have cheaper energy – said Vrdoljak, briefly responding that there were no discussions about the privatization of Petrokemija, which has been circulating in the media for days, and the possibility of Gazprom coming forward as a buyer.
The Russians have also expressed interest in the tender for the exploration and development of gas and oil fields in Croatia and were interested in when the tender could be expected, and they touched on the topic of South Stream. Tomorrow, in fact, an Action Plan for the new branch of South Stream will be signed in Plinacro.
