The price of gas will rise about 10 percent in average starting from January, as it was agreed with representatives of the government, said Dusan Bajatovic. Gas should have been more expensive already in December. But, because of the legal obligation to give notice to the citizens 15 days in advance, the price of gas will increase in January, said Bajatovic.
Mnister of Energy and Environment Zorana Mihajlovic said that the price of electricity will not rise in January.
Gas should have been more expensive already in December. But, because of the legal obligation to give notice to the citizens 15 days in advance, the price of gas will increase in January, said Bajatovic.
He noted that another reason for moving the deadline is that the inflation would reach 14 percent at the end of 2012, and further increases in gas price would only boost the inflation.
When asked to explain what will “Srbijagas” get with this increase in price, since it is still far from the real price of gas, Bajatovic said that this will certainly decrease the loss of “Srbijagas” that amounted to 75 million Euros for the last quarter of the year.
According to him, at the end of next year it is planned to establish a commercial cost for this energy source.
First man of “Srbijagas” said that the price at which Serbia would get gas from Russia in the first quarter of 2013 will be between 400 and 410 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, and it is expected to fall during the year to 370 to 375 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.
Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlovic said that the price of electricity will not rise by the end of this year, nor in January next year.
“Socially maps will be completed by December 31, and the tariff system will be completed in January 2013, after which we will know exactly who consumes how electricity and how much it should be paid” explained Mihajović.
The Minister repeated that the current price should be higher and that it is clear to everyone according to calculations, and that they can not allow EPS to suffer losses due to low prices.
Mihajlovic believes that the real situation in EPS is more important than the percentage of the price increase, and that at least 50 percent of the citizens can not pay the electricity bill.
Source Serbia Energy Magazine
