OREANDA-NEWS. June 04, 2009. Today within the 3rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee, Gazprom met with Dusan Bajatovic, Director General, Srbijagas.

The parties discussed the issues related to current cooperation in the oil and gas industry. Special attention was paid to strategic projects: the South Stream gas pipeline and the Banatski Dvor underground gas storage facility.

The meeting participants noted that the joint venture registration was at the final stage and agreed that the companies would start developing the feasibility study so far. A joint technical workgroup is to be established and to start working next week.

The parties discussed the issues of preparing the agreement providing for the principle conditions for the Banatski Dvor project implementation laying the basis for Gazprom to make the investment decision and to set up a joint venture. Since Banatski Dvor is a strategic project for Serbia and there is a tight deadline for gas injection, the meeting participants decided that Srbijagas would start it and they would make a swap deal afterwards. Construction of a new underground gas storage facility in Serbia was discussed.

It was noted that Gazprom supported Srbijagas in its intention to increase the share in Yugorosgaz to 49 per cent.