Bosnia’s Ugljevik thermal power plant is preparing to resume generation after emergency coal deliveries, easing pressure on the Republic of Srpska electricity system. The plant has been offline for more than two weeks, increasing reliance on costly wholesale imports. Regional day-ahead prices have risen above €300/MWh.
Ugljevik has been out of operation since 13 October. ERS general director Luka Petrovic said preparations were under way to reconnect the plant, with new coal deliveries coming from domestic suppliers, including the Bukova Kosa deposit and sources in the Prijedor area.
Coal deliveries and operating needs
Local supplier Drvo-Export has started transporting coal from Bukova Kosa and has 350,000 to 400,000 tonnes in storage. The stock is expected to be distributed over the next two months between Ugljevik and other contracted customers.
Ugljevik consumes about 6,000 tonnes of coal a day, requiring at least 150 truck deliveries to sustain operations. The price of the new coal supply and the quantity specifically allocated to the plant have not been disclosed.
ERS hopes the latest arrangements will keep Ugljevik operating until 25 December. The emergency purchases, however, do not resolve the plant’s underlying mining problem.
Mining constraints remain
Earlier this year, the Republic of Srpska government paid €123 million to recover the Ugljevik East 2 mining concession, previously controlled through Comsar Energy. The deal was intended to improve access to local reserves and provide a more dependable fuel base. The expected increase in mining output has not yet materialised.
ERS has therefore continued to rely on coal purchases from third parties. Questions have also been raised about the sulphur content of coal from Bukova Kosa and its potential effect on plant emissions.
For the Republic of Srpska power system, each stable megawatt from Ugljevik reduces exposure to an increasingly expensive regional market for replacement electricity. Whether that stability can continue beyond December will depend on resolving the plant’s persistent coal-supply constraints.
