Serbia is moving forward with a major gas transmission expansion and modernisation programme that could involve investments approaching €1 billion, with Niš expected to become an increasingly important junction in the national and regional gas system.
The first major infrastructure project is planned as a 161 km Niš–Velika Plana pipeline, designed with a DN 1000 diameter and maximum operating pressure of 55 bar.
The line would strengthen the route carrying gas from southern Serbia towards the central and northern parts of the country and provide additional capacity as new cross-border interconnections are added.
The existing Serbia-Bulgaria interconnector has annual capacity of approximately 1.8 billion cubic metres, while the planned connection with North Macedonia is being designed for around 1.5 billion cubic metres per year.
The Niš–Velika Plana pipeline would help move those additional southern supplies deeper into Serbia’s transmission system.
The World Bank is expected to participate in financing the wider programme, with talks moving towards formal negotiations. Outstanding issues include procurement arrangements, environmental and social requirements and the allocation of responsibilities between participating institutions and companies.
Preparatory work has already begun. Public consultations are under way and the Ministry of Mining and Energy has published technical documentation.
Later phases could include additional underground gas-storage capacity, pipelines connecting new or expanded storage sites and a possible Mokrin–Belgrade pipeline. Studies are also expected to examine whether elements of Serbia’s gas infrastructure could eventually be adapted for hydrogen transport.
The investment comes alongside restructuring of the Serbian gas sector. A new Gas Law has been adopted, Gas Infrastruktura has been established to manage infrastructure assets and Transportgas Srbija has been certified as an independent transmission system operator, while Srbijagas remains responsible for supplying households and businesses.
Together with planned interconnections towards North Macedonia and Romania, the programme is intended to diversify supply routes and strengthen Serbia’s role in the regional gas network.
