The Ugljevik thermal power plant has once again been forced to shut down after exhausting its coal supplies, with the unit disconnected from the grid on the evening of 7 December. Acting director of RiTE Ugljevik, Žarko Novaković, confirmed that the plant remains offline and emphasized that neither the facility nor its coal storage sites are adequately prepared for winter conditions. He noted that operations can resume only when at least 10,000 tons of coal are stockpiled.
However, Novaković stressed that such a volume is enough for only one day of operation, arguing that restarting the plant for a single day would serve no meaningful purpose. He added that the current difficulties stem from long-standing problems accumulated over the past decade. According to him, the shutdown was coordinated with parent company ERS in order to rebuild coal reserves and stabilize future operations.
Novaković explained that the mine cannot sustain the production levels required to meet the plant’s consumption rate, making the temporary halt necessary. Ugljevik has four coal depots, and he estimated that 150,000 to 200,000 tons are needed across these sites to ensure reliable performance throughout winter. The storage capacity exists precisely because mining equipment cannot operate efficiently during rain, snow, or fog. For now, the minimum requirement for reconnecting to the grid is the first 10,000 tons delivered to the stockpile.
Mirko Marković, head of a production unit at the Ugljevik coalmine, said that unstable weather has been a major factor behind recent supply disruptions. October saw ten days without work due to poor conditions, while November brought around fifteen non-operational days. He also noted that mining teams had to redirect their entire working front after geological deposits were misinterpreted in previous years. Expected coal seams were not found in sufficient quantities, forcing operations to shift direction—a challenge developing over several seasons.
