The Ministry of Mining and Energy announced that the European Commission, through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), granted 8.44 million euros in non-reimbursable aid to the energy sector.
The Ministry added that the funds will be used to finance the reconstruction of hydropower plant Bistrica and the preparation of a feasibility study for the Central Balkan Corridor project.
For, HPP Bistrica reconstruction project, power utility EPS received a grant of 7.72 million euros, which will cover a fifth of the reconstruction costs, which total 36.1 million euros.
Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic said that by replacing the equipment at HPP Bistrica, its operational life will be extended, which will contribute to the security of supply, increase the share of production from renewable energy sources, and reduce emission of greenhouse gases. The launch of reconstruction works is planned for the second half of 2024.
The remaining funds will be allocated for the preparation of a feasibility study for the Central Balkan Corridor project with an environmental impact assessment, which involves the construction of a new transmission line that would connect central Serbia with the Kostolac region and, in the second phase, the connection of Serbia and Bulgaria with a new 400 kV transmission line and the construction of new transmission lines that would connect the eastern and western Serbia.
The Central Balkan Corridor, whose estimated investment value is around 195 million euros, is included in the Pan-European Transmission System Development Plan 2022 of the European Association for the Cooperation of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E).
