Serbia

Fossil Fuels

After meeting with Russian spy chief, Deputy PM accuses West destabilising Serbia

Serbia's vice prime minister, following up on a Moscow meeting with Russia’s spy chief, accused Western intelligence agencies of destabilising the country on Friday by supporting months of antigovernment protests. Aleksandar Vulin, deputy premier, said that after meeting Sergei Naryshkin (director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR), Western powers are plotting to overthrow Serbia's government. Serbia has had strong ties with Moscow for many years. "Western intelligence services attempt to stage a colour revolution and destabilise Serbia," Vulin’s office said. The statement was a reference to the pro-European uprising that took place in Ukraine, which ousted its pro-Russian leader. Since...

Oil & Gas

Fossil Fuels

Natural Gas Utilities

Vucic, Serbian President, says he still wants to be a part of the EU despite his visit to Moscow

Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, said that his country is committed to joining the European Union. He also wants to accelerate its application for membership. Vucic visited Russia for a celebration of the 80th Anniversary of World War II Victory on May 8-9. There, he also met with Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Vucic, who met Antonio Costa, President of the European Council on Tuesday, said that Belgrade wanted to accelerate its European Integration and open more negotiations with the bloc. "The atmosphere in the EU is not great, as I was convinced...

Fossil Fuels

After meeting with Russian spy chief, Deputy PM accuses West destabilising Serbia

Serbia's vice prime minister, following up on a Moscow meeting with Russia’s spy chief, accused Western intelligence agencies of destabilising the country on Friday by supporting months of antigovernment protests. Aleksandar Vulin, deputy premier, said that after meeting Sergei Naryshkin (director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR), Western powers are plotting to overthrow Serbia's government. Serbia has had strong ties with Moscow for many years. "Western intelligence services attempt to stage a colour revolution and destabilise Serbia," Vulin’s office said. The statement was a reference to the pro-European uprising that took place in Ukraine, which ousted its pro-Russian leader. Since...

Fossil Fuels

The U.S. Treasury requests a 90-day suspension of sanctions from Serbian oil company NIS

The Serbian energy ministry announced on Tuesday that the Serbian oil company NIS - which is owned by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom - has requested a waiver from sanctions for 90 day. The ministry stated that both the Serbian government and the Hungarian government have backed the NIS request. The statement stated that "we urgently request that OFAC consider immediate assistance in the form of suspension of sanctions for at least 90 days while a viable solution leading to the lifting of the sanctions is considered." The request of NIS is to obtain licenses to allow the company to continue...

Energy Markets

Serbia offers to spend for stake in Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant

Serbia offered to pay Hungary for approximately 10% of ownership in its Paks nuclear power plant as it looks for to diversify its energy products, President Aleksandar Vucic stated on Thursday. I have actually asked Prime Minister (Viktor) Orban and we are ready to ... pay full price for 5% or 10% of ownership in the Paks nuclear reactor, Vucic told Serbian press reporters in Budapest. He said the Hungarian side did not instantly react to his demand. Vucic did not specify whether Serbia desires a stake in Hungary's existing Paks four-reactor nuclear reactor or the Paks 2 which is...

Environment

Environment

The World Bank predicts that six Western Balkan economies will grow collectively by 3.2% in 2025

The World Bank's bi-annual report, released on Monday, said that the weakening external demand and the global economic uncertainty will moderately slow the growth of the six Western Balkans nations in 2025. The report stated that Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro North Macedonia, Serbia, will all grow by 3.2% in 2025. This is 0.5 percentage points lower than the previous bank projections. The growth rate in the region is expected to reach 3.5% by 2026. The World Bank's division director for Western Balkans, Xiaoqing Yu said, "We see some positive economic trends that demonstrate the region’s resilience and should...

Carbon Emissions

Tariffs on green EU products could hurt coal-dependent Western Balkans

EU CO2 tax targets imports that are carbon-intensive Import tax on coal-powered electricity Western Balkan countries seeking exemptions from impact Joanna Gill The EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism will cover coal-fueled electricity, one of the Western Balkans most carbon-heavy products. This will impose a tax on imports that have a high carbon footprint. Janez Kopac - former director of Energy Community Secretariat - explained that the region's economic and geographical ties to the EU were "so immense" that it would be difficult for them to avoid the tariffs. The Energy Community Secretariat brings together the EU, its neighbours and other...

Coal

Kosovo Businesses at Risk from Trump's USAID Freeze

Kenan Gashi, a shop owner in Kosovo, saws the limbs of old mannequins and then throws them in machines donated by the U.S. Government that shred the plastic and clean it so that it can be reused. Gashi's business of recycling in Fushe Kosova has been transformed since it received equipment from USAID two years ago. This prompted him to plan to hire more employees. Gashi, however, is now worried. Gashi is worried now. Now, the Trump administration has frozen USAID's funding and is attempting to reduce the agency and U.S. Foreign Aid in line with his "America First Agenda"....

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Ratings in central Serbia rally against Rio Tinto's lithium job

Hundreds of people collected in the central Serbian town of Valjevo on Monday to demonstration Rio Tinto's, lithium job in Western Serbia, over fears it might contaminate the land. Protesters in the central square of the industrial city, which has a population of 55,000, and lies about 100 km ( 60 miles) west of Belgrade, chanted, You will not dig, and Rio Tinto, leave Serbia! We will not allow it; we will fight as much as we can, stated Sonja, 50, a local of Valjevo. Aleksandar Jovanovic Cuta, one of the demonstration organizers, said that the misery called lithium is...

Mineral Resources

Rio Tinto's Serbia lithium job might take two years to approve, minister states

It could take Rio Tinto 2 years to obtain the authorizations it needs to begin building on its Jadar lithium job in Serbia, the nation's energy minister stated on Friday, as ecologists strategy fresh protests over the mine. Last month, Serbia renewed Rio's licence to establish what would be Europe's biggest lithium mine in the western Jadar region, two years after the previous government halted the licensing process due to mad protests by ecological groups. In order to move towards production at the site, the Australian mining group now needs to secure approvals which will hinge on its ecological impact...

Mineral Resources

Serbia's parliament speaker seeks argument over Rio Tinto's lithium task

Serbia's parliament speaker and former prime minister Ana Brnabic on Monday sought a. debate and approval in the assembly for a contested Rio Tinto. lithium task in the Balkan nation. Regarded as a critical material by the EU and the United. States, lithium is utilized in batteries for EVs and mobile phones. In 2022, the Serbian government withdrawed licences for Rio's. $ 2.4 billion Jadar lithium job near the western town of. Loznica after massive ecological demonstrations. Brnabic, also a ranking authorities of the ruling Serbian. Progressive Celebration (SNS) devoted to President Aleksandar Vucic,. said the Jadar job requires responsible...

Mineral Resources

Miners in Kosovo break Ramadan fast 800 metres underground

Kosovar miner Emin Hasani feels closer to God when he breaks the Ramadan fast 800 metres (2,625 feet) underground. After a long and blistering shift down the Trepca mine in Stanterg in northern Kosovo, Hasani checks a clock to know when the sun is setting at the surface and whether the time has come to consume. Relaxing a small table in a makeshift workplace in the mine, he and 4 associates pull out dates, yogurt, pickles and cheese that they clean down with sugary black tea. The guys laugh and chat with each other as they share the Iftar meal,...