Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) received an approval from the Federal Government for the issuance of energy permit to power utility EPBiH for hydropower plant Vranduk, which construction is currently ongoing.
Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Nermin Dzindic said that the issuance of energy permit is an integral part of the project, as the temporary permit previously issued to EPBiH now becomes permanent. He said that the construction of HPP Vranduk is progressing as planned, some activities are even 10 % ahead of their schedule, adding that preparatory works are still ongoing at the construction site and that actual construction works will begin next year. He reminded that HPP Vranduk should be commissioned in 2019.
In January 2016, Bosnian power utility EPBiH has signed a contract worth 57.4 million euros with the joint venture of Austrian Strabag and Croatian Koncar. The signed turnkey contract includes the development of project documentation, production, delivery and installation of equipment, construction works and testing and commissioning of the plant. The construction of HPP Vranduk was officially launched on 8 September 2016.
According to the concession agreement from August 2012, EPBiH will design, build and operate the plant. The concession period will be 30 years, with extention option. EPBiH is obliged to pay one-time concession fee of 1.1 million euros, while annual concession fee will be 2.43 % of the annual income. HPP Vranduk will be built on Bosna river near Zenica and will have power output of 19.6 MW, while its annual electricity production should reach 97 GWh. HPP Vranduk will be the first of the 25 cascade HPPs on Bosna river that should be built until 2025.
