AGREEMENT REACHED ON GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION FROM ZVORNIK TO NOVI GRAD

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 24 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik stated that an agreement has been reached on the construction of a gas pipeline from Zvornik to Novi Grad, including pumping stations.

Dodik said that it has been agreed that the pipeline will first run directly to Banja Luka, which is expected to be completed within two years, and that connections to all municipalities will then be made, with full implementation projected in four years. “We have found a way to overcome the problem of laying pipes under the Drina River. We will solve this by building pumping stations at the entrance to Republika Srpska in Zvornik, where the gas will be pressurized to ensure sufficient flow. The pipelines will have a capacity of four billion cubic meters of gas, while currently Serbia consumes 2.5 million. In the long term, this could also become a transit project,” Dodik explained. According to him, this was not done before because the technology did not exist, and for 12 years, the Muslims blocked the laying of pipes under the Drina. “Some may say Dodik is loyal to Russia, but I am loyal only to our interests and our people. I had an agreement with the director of Gazprom regarding the details and for Russia to participate in the construction of this gas pipeline and two 600-megawatt gas power plants in Banjaluka and Prijedor, with the support of Gazprombank. It would be up to us to resolve property and legal issues, and they would provide us with a significant share in that company,” Dodik recalled. He added that the Russians had also offered gas distribution, but that it was immediately blocked. “At that time, it was worth two billion Euros, and now it would cost five billion Euros. And then those over there who constantly attack us did not want to give their consent,” Dodik told RTRS. The President of Republika Srpska emphasized that the Šamac–Brčko, Brčko–Bijeljina, and Bijeljina–Rača sections of the highway are being constructed intensively. “All of these are major projects. When you add energy projects to them, it won’t be difficult to reach four billion BAM in new investments,” Dodik said.