EIA scope set by Ministry at EPS request
Serbia’s planned Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower project has entered a new development phase after environmental authorities formally defined the scope of an upcoming Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The EIA is described as a mandatory step before construction can begin. The decision was issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection at the request of state-owned utility EPS. It outlines key areas that must be thoroughly analyzed to determine potential environmental effects.
The assessment is intended to provide a basis for evaluating whether the project meets environmental standards and broader sustainability objectives. The Ministry’s ruling specifies that the EIA study will be used in the approval process. Under the decision, EPS must submit the completed EIA study for approval within one year after the ruling becomes legally effective.
New Uvac River dam near Klak and Radoinja
The proposed development includes construction of a new dam on the Uvac River near the Klak location. Project documentation places the site about five kilometers downstream from the existing Radoinja dam. The dam is expected to reach around 100 meters in height, with a crest width of 10 meters and a length of up to 400 meters. The reservoir would flood part of the Uvac valley between Klak and Radoinja.
The project is located in the municipalities of Nova Varoš and Priboj. It is presented as part of a wider hydropower system on the Uvac and Lim rivers. Environmental authorities require that the EIA address impacts across multiple environmental and social dimensions.
Impacts to be assessed and mitigation requirements
The EIA study must examine effects on water resources, soil, air quality, biodiversity, protected areas, local communities, and climate factors. Authorities also require an evaluation of cumulative impacts linked to interaction with other existing or planned infrastructure in the region. Special attention is directed to potential effects on surface and groundwater systems. It also covers aquatic ecosystems and surrounding habitats.
The final EIA report must include mitigation measures designed to reduce or prevent negative environmental consequences during both construction and operation phases. Officials also stated that the Bistrica project is strategically important for Serbia’s energy system due to its large-scale energy storage capacity. They said this would support greater integration of renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
