Energy projects represent a significant segment of the Serbia 2025 investment program.
This was stated by Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic, pointing out that increasing the country’s gas storage capacity is one of the priorities in the coming period.
“We will pay a lot of attention to precisely energy projects”, Antic told Tanjug, noting that significant projects are underway, including a pipeline from the border with Bulgaria to the border with Hungary, as a continuation of the Turkish Stream.
“These days, the laying of pipes has been completed, and in 2020 the construction of block stations, measuring stations and a large compressor station remains, which should provide pressure to keep that gas flowing to Hungary”, Antic said.
He recalled the construction of Kostolac B3, a 350-megawatt block.
“Big projects are already underway, but we are planning a whole host of other projects in all areas of our energy sector. Some of these projects will have additional support from the investment plan. First of all, I want to highlight the increase in Serbia’s gas storage capacity”, Antic said.
Serbia currently has 450 million cubic meters of gas at Banatski Dvor, he said, adding that the storage capacity must be increased in order to have full energy security and security of gas supply.
“Gas is becoming an increasingly important energy source for both citizens and the economy, so we are working on expanding Banatski Dvor. In two phases, we will increase its capacity to one billion cubic meters”, the minister said. In addition to this project, additional gas storage facilities are being constructed. Regarding electricity production facilities, besides Kostolac B3, which is underway and will be completed in 2021, the investment plan includes the construction of one block at Kolubara B thermal power plant in Kalenic, also with a capacity of 350 megawatts.
The block would also use Kolubara coal as energy.
“We need that base energy primarily from the coal-fired power plant in order to have the full security of our energy system and to be able to plan a number of energy inefficient blocks that we have at Kolubara A and Morava thermal power plants in the next few years. That’s why we need to have replacement capacities”, Antic says.
In order for all thermal units from the thermal power plant to be able to operate at full capacity, he said, significant investments are needed in the coal production sector.
“With the support of this investment plan, we are planning all the necessary activities for the opening of new surface mines, that is POLJE E and Radljevo in the Kolubara Basin and West Kostolac in the Kostolac Basin”, Antic explains.
These three new mines should provide, he added, security of coal supply over the next few decades, and this is one of the key priorities in which significant investments are being made.
In the next few years, coal production will start in Radljevo, and as far as Kostolac is concerned, project documentation is under development.
“We are planning big projects from renewable energy sources, to harness large hydro potentials that have not yet been utilized, especially in Morava, Ibar and Drina”, Antic told Tanjug.
“We have brought it back to life and are seriously planning a project for the Bistrica reversible hydroelectric power plant, which is first and foremost necessary for us to be able to balance that energy from renewable sources”, the minister said.
With regard to electricity transmission, funding for the Trans-Balkan Corridor has been provided.
“It will not be part of this investment plan, but it is also extremely important with its interconnections with BiH and Montenegro”, Antic added.
With regard to gasification, the funds foreseen in this plan relate to several projects such as interconnection with neighboring countries, the Nis-Dimitrovgrad pipeline project as part of interconnection with Bulgaria, then connection with Romania, the pipeline from Mokrin to the border with Romania, the pipeline to the Republic Srpska, etc.
Also, Antic said, gasification projects for entire districts in Serbia are underway, with priorities being Kolubara, Pcinjski district, Kraljevo and other cities and municipalities.
