Gazprom Energoholding is considering various energy projects in the territory of Serbia, including the construction of gas-fired thermal power plants and investments in renewable energy sources. 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 said that the perspective of these projects is currently being estimated and negotiations with potential partners are ongoing. The company also stressed that it was the coronavirus pandemic that postponed the commissioning of CHPP Pancevo, and not the delays related to the construction of TurkStream in Bulgaria. The company also noted that they are dedicated to overcoming all obstacles and that they intend to ensure that the power plant starts working in the first half of 2021.
CHPP Pancevo was initially supposed to be completed by June 2020, but Gazprom extended the completion deadline by the end of the year. In June, General Manager of Gazprom Energoholding Denis Fedorov said that Gazprom planned for an accelerated commissioning of the plant with the Chinese contractor, but there was a problem with the supply of equipment and workers from China. 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.
