Last year, Gazprom Energoholding said that the evaluation of the project for the construction of a natural gas-fired thermal power plant in Kragujevac is in progress. According to the company, the necessary conditions for its realization are being analyzed at the moment. The company is also interested in investing in renewable energy, particularly wind farms. According to CEO of Gazprom Energoholding Denis Fyodorov, the company is considering the construction of additional two natural gas-fired power plants in Serbia (besides the ongoing CHPP Pancevo project), in order to help meet domestic electricity demand.
CHPP Pancevo is slated for commissioning in mid-2021. The extension of the deadlines for the completion of this facility was a consequence of the restrictions related to coronavirus in Serbia and China, adding that there were no penalties for the delay. Initially the plant was supposed to be completed by June 2020, but Gazprom extended the completion deadline by the end of the year and later to the second quarter of 2021. In 2015, Serbian oil company NIS, majority owned by Russian GazpromNeft, has signed an agreement with Gazprom Energoholding, a part of Gazprom Group, on the establishment of joint company for the construction of thermal power plant near Pancevo. In October 2017, NIS signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract on a turnkey basis worth 180 million euros with Shanghai Electric Group. It was initially expected that the construction of CHPP Pancevo will start in the second half of 2018 and be commissioned by the end of 2019. The construction of CHPP Pancevo has officially started in March 2019. 200 MW power plant will be built within NIS’ oil refinery complex in Pancevo, the project will cost 180 million euros and it is expected to be completed in mid-2020 and fully operational by the end of the year. It should contribute to an increase in the stability of supply of electricity, thanks to directing up to 65 % of the power produced to the energy system of Serbia, while also covering the needs of Pancevo refinery for electricity and steam.
