Bulgargaz has been granted a wholesale natural gas trading licence by Serbia's energy agency, valid for 10 years, the company says. The move means Serbian authorities have confirmed Bulgargaz meets all their requirements and can now do business on the country's gas market. The licence lets it buy and sell gas wholesale in Serbia.
Bulgargaz says the step widens its reach in neighbouring markets and opens up more cross-border gas trade with countries across Central and Southeast Europe.
The company already trades and supplies gas in Greece, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, it points out. It also operates in Moldova through its subsidiary Bulgargaz North, registered there, which has secured a licence to trade gas in the country.
Bulgargaz is also registered as a user of gas transmission networks in Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Hungary and Ukraine. That gives the company direct access to those markets and more room for cross-border gas trade across the region.
Last week, during a state visit by Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš, energy minister Iva Petrova and Karel Havlíček — Czech deputy prime minister and minister of industry and trade — agreed it was time for Bulgargaz and the Czech state gas company to start talks on future cooperation in the gas sector.