Financing for the Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower plant was the main topic during a meeting between Serbia’s Energy and Mining Minister Dubravka Djedovic and a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The discussion took place during JICA’s fourth expert mission to Serbia and reviewed preliminary project valuations prepared by the agency’s consultants.
Minister Djedovic urged JICA to accelerate its assessment so that construction can start as soon as possible. She emphasized that HPP Bistrica is a strategic asset for Serbia, essential for maintaining grid stability and balancing the increasing share of solar and wind energy expected in the coming years. The project’s priority status is reflected in the Government’s updated list of key energy investments through 2030, which also sets indicative implementation milestones.
Highlighting strong cooperation with JICA on past and current initiatives and formal support from the Government of Japan, Minister Djedovic stressed the importance of all stakeholders working closely together to keep the project on schedule. JICA’s new Europe director, Takahiro Goto, noted that the early estimates provide a solid foundation for more detailed collaboration with the Serbian side.
Participants, including representatives from state-owned power utility EPS, also outlined the next steps: preparing technical documentation, aligning engineering solutions to ensure the stability of the Radoinja dam within the project, and producing the environmental impact assessment, which is a key prerequisite for JICA’s financing approval.
