The temporary reduction in gas flow was due to a technical issue at the Shah Deniz Alpha platform. However, the Shah Deniz Bravo platform continues to operate at full capacity, ensuring stable exports. Gas supplies are expected to be restored shortly, according to the Anewz TV channel.
Earlier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that gas supplies from Azerbaijan had been suspended due to force majeure, affecting 1.7 million cubic meters of gas per day. He mentioned that Serbia has started to rely more heavily on its own reserves and expressed hope that supplies would resume within one to two months.
“We received notification from our Azerbaijani brothers and friends that due to insurmountable difficulties at the Shah Deniz field, we cannot count on 1.7 million cubic meters of gas per day. We were informed that there is no certainty about the timeframe for restoring supplies,” Vučić said, adding that Serbia has sufficient energy reserves to get through the winter.
However, government sources have refuted Vučić’s estimate of the restoration timeframe, emphasizing that the situation is temporary and under control.
BP also clarified that the malfunction at the Shah Deniz Alpha platform is localized, did not affect the pipeline, and has not caused environmental damage. The platform’s shutdown was a precautionary measure and has not disrupted overall field operations.
The Shah Deniz Bravo platform continues to supply gas reliably to Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Europe. Short-term disruptions previously reported in Bulgaria have already been resolved.
Azerbaijani gas plays a crucial role in Serbia’s energy security. Serbia consumes over 3 billion cubic meters of gas annually, with 400 million cubic meters supplied by Azerbaijan.
Efforts to address the technical issue at the platform are underway as a matter of urgency. The Shah Deniz project remains a vital element in diversifying gas supplies and ensuring energy stability in Europe.
