The new pipeline connecting Serbia with EU member Bulgaria aims to reduce Serbia's dependence on Russian gas. Serbia and other countries in central and southeastern Europe will now have access to Azerbaijani exports. Serbia on Sunday completed the interconnector to a pipeline in Bulgaria, allowing the Balkan country to diversify its gas supplies and reduce its dependence on Russia. An opening ceremony for the pipeline was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his Bulgarian and Azeri counterparts, Rumen Radev and Ilham Aliyev. "With this interconnector we are securing alternative gas supplies, apart from the Russian gas," Serbia's energy minister, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, said. Access to gas from Azerbaijan The pipeline, which runs from the Bulgarian town of Novi Iskar to the Serbian city of Nis, will give Belgrade access to gas from Azerbaijan and to the LNG terminal in the Greek port of Alexandroupolis. On November 15, Serbia signed a deal with Azerbaijan to purchase 400 million cubic metres of natural gas per year from 2024. The capacity of the 170-kilometer (105-mile) pipeline on the Serbian side is 1.8 billion cubic meters per year, which is 60% of the country's annual gas demand of about 3 billion cubic meters. The European Union supported the project with grants totaling €49.6 million ($53.4 million) and loans of €25 million. Serbia itself is not a member of the EU, but has been negotiating to join the bloc since 2014. Serbia's reliance on Russia In recent decades, Serbia has relied almost exclusively on Russia for its gas supplies, building pipelines solely for Russian gas and selling a majority stake in its state oil and gas company, NIS, to Russian energy giant Gazprom. Last year, Belgrade signed a long-term contract to continue importing Russian gas, drawing a rebuke from Brussels as the EU seeks to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. While Serbia, which aspires to join the bloc, has condemned Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has not joined Western countries in imposing sanctions on Moscow.  

G20 Ministers responsible for Energy underlined the importance of ensuring that the growing global energy demand is matched by sustainable and affordable energy supplies. The ministers aimed to advance technological collaboration and cooperation amongst G20 members, other international partners and multilateral institutions to strengthen energy systems with a view to ensuring energy security and stabilising energy markets, read the outcome document of the G20 Energy Transitions Ministers’ meeting in Goa on Saturday. During the meeting, the ministers emphasised the importance of maintaining undisrupted flows of energy from various sources, suppliers and routes exploring paths to enhanced energy security and markets stability, including through inclusive investments to meet the growing energy demand, in line with our sustainable development and climate goals, while promoting open, competitive, non-discriminatory, and free international energy markets. The G20 Energy ministers met under India’s G20 Presidency, with the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ in Goa on July 22, 2023, with the aim to share, collaborate and build on the sense of responsibility and solidarity amongst the G20 members in accelerating the clean, sustainable, just, affordable and inclusive energy transitions, following various pathways, as a means of enabling secure, sustainable, equitable, shared and inclusive growth. “We attach importance to the promotion of dialogue between consumers and producers as well as global cooperation in the business sector, and the need for adequate energy investments towards sustainable, affordable, reliable, resilient, and cleaner energy systems,” the meeting’s outcome document read. The ministers acknowledged that certain minerals, materials and technologies are critical for energy transitions and there is a need to maintain reliable, responsible and sustainable supply chains of such critical minerals and materials, as well as semiconductors and related technologies, complying with the principles of market economy and international trade rules while respecting the sovereign rights of countries. The meeting brought together over 100 delegates from G20 member countries, special invitee countries, and several international organisations, as per a release by the Ministry of Power. The G20 ministers agreed to support voluntary and mutually agreed technology diffusion, skill development, beneficiation at source and increased flow of finance to address the lack of capital, human or technical resources; to produce them sustainably and with a view to enhancing local value creation through beneficiation. “We support research and development for increasing efficiencies, increasing scale of beneficiation at source, promoting circularity, and enabling sustainable alternatives to maintain, supply chain balances of such minerals and materials,” the outcome document read. The ministers reiterated the need to reduce the potential negative impacts on people and the environment and intend to leverage multilateral cooperation as well as cooperation between the G20 members. "In this regard, we take note of the Presidency documents: “Voluntary High-Level Principles for Collaboration on Critical Minerals for Energy Transitions” (Annex A) and the report 'Addressing Vulnerabilities in the Supply Chain of Critical Minerals'." The G20 ministers also agreed to recognise the role of grid interconnections, resilient energy infrastructure and regional/cross-border power systems integration, where applicable, in enhancing energy security, fostering economic growth, and facilitating universal energy access for all, in an affordable, reliable and sustainable manner.

Even though the relations between Pakistan and Russia are said to be on an upswing, Islamabad is reported to be supplying weapons and ammunition to Kyiv, according to Geo-Politik citing the report published in the Russian web portal, Riafan. Islamabad seems to make money off the Russia-Ukraine war by supplying much-needed ammunition to Ukraine. Pakistani companies are also exploiting the ongoing conflict in maximizing their profit and expanding their operations in countries bordering Ukraine. Notably, CEO of Kestral, Liaqat Ali Beg, travelled to Poland, Romania, and Slovakia in May and June 2022. The report claimed that Islamabad is supposedly part of an air bridge for supplying weapons to Ukraine. It is apparently using defence suppliers and contractors operating in foreign countries to channel these shipments to Ukraine. The report revealed further that the UK is using Pakistan's Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi as a key base for the transportation of military equipment for the Ukrainian Army. This report came at a time when Pakistan-Russia relations are the upswing. On one hand, Russia has agreed to provide at least 100,000 barrels per day of crude oil to Pakistan at discounted rates while on other hand, Islamabad is supplying arms and ammunition to Ukraine, reported Geo-Politik. Islamabad-based arms supplier M/s DMI Associates was in contact with Bulgaria-based firm M/s Defense Industry Group to facilitate the supply of manufactured defence stores to the Ukrainian government. Meanwhile, the Slovakia-based defence firm M/s Chemica had purportedly contacted Pak Ordinance Factories' ammunition supplier M/s Kestral, on behalf of Ukraine's Defence Ministry, the report said citing credible sources. Surprisingly, Ukrainian business M/s FORMAG had contacted M/s Bluelines Cargo Pvt Ltd in Pakistan to send gloves for their army, Geo-Politik reported. Pakistan's shipping and brokering firm 'Project Shipping' is also expected to send a consignment of arms and ammunition including mortars, rocket launchers and artillery rounds from Karachi to Poland. Although this is not a single-sided transaction as in the return for the arms supplement to Ukraine. Pakistan has asked for Ukraine's help to service and repair "TV3-117VM Engines" used in Mi-17 helicopters from the Ukrainian Joint Stock Company (JSC) 'Motor Sich,' headquartered in Zaporizhzhia. As it has been an enterprise of the Ukrainian government which it took control deeming "military necessity". This company has been involved with the production of aircraft engines as well as industrial marine gas turbines, according to Geo-Politik. Pakistan and Ukraine's military ties go back nearly three decades. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Ukraine has supplied weapons worth nearly USD 1.6 billion to Pakistan till 2020. In the 1990s, Ukraine supplied 320 T-84UD tanks to Pakistan for a deal worth USD 600 million. 

India has again extended assistance to Sri Lanka and will send two ships each of diesel and petrol to the neighbouring nation facing an acute shortage of fuel. One ship is expected in Sri Lanka between July 13 and 15 and another between July 29 and 31. The last one will reach the island nation between August 10 and 15, ET has learnt from Colombo-based sources. The decision to supply fuel comes after recent discussions held between Sri Lankan high commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda and minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri.   Moragoda explained the urgent energy requirements of Sri Lanka to Puri. Lanka has received more than 400,000 tonne of fuel from India over the past three months. Moragoda and Puri also discussed ways in which India and Sri Lanka could further expand cooperation in the petroleum sector to overcome the current crisis, according to the high commission. They also talked about establishing long-term relationships in the petroleum, oil, gas and related supply sectors. The current diesel stocks in Sri Lanka will only be used for essential services until the arrival of a new shipment. About 33,000 metric tonne of gas will arrive in Sri Lanka in July, and 100,000 metric tonne of gas will be procured for the next four months, the Lankan media reported. Sri Lanka has been facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, leading to a severe shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and fuel. The nearly bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis, announced in April that it was suspending nearly $7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about $25 billion due through 2026. The economic crisis has particularly impacted food security, agriculture, livelihoods, and access to health services. Food production in the last harvest season was 40-50% lower than previous year, and the current agricultural season is at risk, with seeds, fertilizers, and fuel and credit shortages.   Source: The Economic Times  

In line with its "neighborhood first" policy, India again came forward to help Sri Lanka during its economic crisis as Inidan High Commissioner to Colombo, Gopal Baglay recently handed a total of 3.3 tons of essential medical supplies to the 1990 Suwaseriya Ambulance Service. Baglay said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was apprised of the looming shortage of medical supplies faced by the Foundation during his visit to the Suwaseriya Headquarters in Colombo in March 2022. "Another promise to the people of #SriLanka delivered!!! During his visit in March, EAM @DrSJaishankar was apprised of shortages of medicines faced by @1990SuwaSeriya. High Commissioner handed over 3.3 tons of medical supplies today to help the vital lifeline run smoothly," Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted. Responding to the urgent need for medical supplies, the High Commission said that the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Gharial was specially deployed for this purpose. In addition to Suwaseriya Foundation, medical supplies for General Hospital Hambantota, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya and Teaching Hospital, Jaffna have also been carried onboard INS Gharial, Daily Mirror reported. "More than 25 tons of drugs and medical supplies which were donated by the Government and people of India during the last two months are valued at close to SLR 370 million. This is in addition to the economic assistance of around USD 3.5 billion and supply of other humanitarian supplies such as rice, milk powder, kerosene etc," the statement added. Earlier, on May 27, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Vinod K. Jacob handed over a consignment of over 25 tons of medical supplies to Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella in Colombo. Taking to Twitter, the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka said that the consignment is valued at close to Rs 260 million. These humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the Government of India's ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply and many more. These efforts prove that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Neighborhood First' policy which places people-to-people engagement is still active. These are complemented by the people of India who have also been donating generously to their brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, according to the Colombo Page. Source: Business Standard

The acting High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Vinod K. Jacob, handed over a consignment of over 25 tonnes of medical supplies, donated by the Government of India to Sri Lanka's Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, in Colombo on Friday.   Taking to Twitter, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said that the consignment is valued at close to Rs260 million.   “Ongoing commitment to the people of #SriLanka!!!Acting High Commissioner @VinodKJacob76handed over a donation of more than 25 tons of medical supplies, with a value of SLR 260 #million, to Hon’ble Health Minister @Keheliya_R in #Colombo today,” the Indian mission in Sri Lanka said.   An Indian navy ship was deployed for the delivery of humanitarian assistance materials as part of Mission SAGAR IX.   In addition to medical supplies, the ship also carried onboard kerosene for the use of fishermen in Sri Lanka. The consignment of kerosene shall be distributed among the beneficiaries by Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation.   “Humanitarian supplies which came on board #INS Gharial also include kerosene for use by fishermen in #lka. These supplies will be distributed among the beneficiaries in the coming days,” the High Commission of India tweeted.   The medical consignment was donated in response to requests by various organisations and hospitals across the country.   The representatives of Suwasariya Foundation and Member of Parliament Dr Harsha De Silva had pointed out the medical requirements to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Sri Lanka in March. These requirements are now being met through these donations.   In addition, medical supplies to General Hospital Hambantota, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya and Teaching Hospital, Jaffna are also being catered to, according to the High Commission.   Another large consignment of medical supplies for Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya was delivered earlier onboard INS Gharial on April 29.   The humanitarian supplies are in continuation of India’s ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply and many more. Source: Khaleej Times

Bangladesh has offered to dispatch emergency medicines and medical equipment supplies for the people of India who are immensely fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. The supplies include about 10,000 vials of injectable anti-viral, oral anti-viral, 30,000 PPE kits, and several thousand zinc, calcium, vitamin C and other necessary tablets, a foreign ministry press release said on Thursday. It said Bangladesh stands in solidarity with its close neighbour India at this critical moment and Dhaka is ready to provide and mobilize support in every possible way to save lives. “The Government of Bangladesh expresses deep sorrow and condolences at the loss of lives in India due to the recent spread of the COVID pandemic,” read the release. The release said thoughts and prayers of the people of Bangladesh are with the people of India for alleviating their sufferings. Bangladesh is interested in providing further support to India, if needed, the release added. Source: BSS AH