The tender for the construction of the oil pipeline linking Hungary and Serbia has been extended, with the new submission deadline set for 26 February. The original deadline, set following the launch of the tender in late December, was 5 February. Since its publication, the call for bids has undergone five amendments, primarily to clarify and adjust the technical documentation.
The public tender, issued by Transnafta as the project lead, covers both construction works and professional supervision of the future pipeline. The project’s strategic goal is to diversify Serbia’s crude import routes and strengthen domestic oil supply reliability.
Currently, Serbia relies exclusively on the Croatian route and the JANAF pipeline system for crude imports. The new pipeline will create a northern corridor, enabling deliveries from Hungary, where the Druzhba pipeline transports Russian crude to several European markets.
Designed primarily for the transport of Russian Export Blend crude, the pipeline will start near the Horgos border crossing in northern Serbia and terminate at Transnafta’s terminal in Novi Sad. The Serbian section is projected to extend approximately 113 kilometers, entirely underground, with an annual capacity of up to 5.5 million tons.
The route will traverse the municipalities of Kanjiza, Senta, Ada, Becej, and Zabalj, following a north-to-south alignment toward Novi Sad. Earlier estimates valued the Serbian segment at around 157 million euros.
In parallel with the tender process, Transnafta has submitted a request to the Ministry of Environmental Protection to determine whether a formal environmental impact assessment will be required, indicating that regulatory procedures are progressing alongside procurement.
