Serbian electricity transmission operator EMS has commissioned the Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning of Serbia to prepare the spatial plan for the Central-Balkan Corridor, a major project designed to increase transmission capacity on the Serbian-Bulgarian border and establish a 400 kV east-west link to replace the existing 220 kV network.
The first stage includes a double-circuit transmission line connecting Jagodina and Pozarevac. EMS describes this segment as essential for integrating renewable energy from south Banat and the Kostolac area into the grid, while also improving supply reliability for cities such as Jagodina and Kragujevac. The overall plan envisions approximately 310 kilometers of new high-voltage lines and two new 400 kV substations, with total investments estimated at around 195 million euros. Completion of the full corridor is expected by 2034.
The project aligns with broader regional initiatives, including the Trans-Balkan Corridor. The Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning will prepare the spatial plan for the special-purpose area and carry out a strategic environmental impact assessment. Key infrastructure elements covered by the plan include a new 400/110 kV substation in Pozarevac, a 2×400 kV line connecting Jagodina 4 and Pozarevac 3 substations, reconstruction of the Jagodina 4 substation, the 400 kV line from Smederevo 3 to Drmno, and connections from Drmno toward Djerdap 1 via the new Pozarevac 3 node.
The corridor will be implemented in four phases. The first phase involves constructing the new 400 kV facility near Pozarevac and connecting it to the existing Jagodina 4 substation, with completion expected in 2030. The second phase includes a new cross-border line with Bulgaria, with specific facilities to be determined following a feasibility study, targeting commissioning in 2034. The third phase covers a 400 kV connection from Nis 2 through Krusevac 1 to Kraljevo 3, including an upgrade of Krusevac 1 to 400 kV, also scheduled for 2034. The final stage will establish a line from Kraljevo 3 through a new 400 kV substation in Pozega to the Vardiste area, linking to the fourth section of the Trans-Balkan Corridor by 2034.
The Central-Balkan Corridor is seen as a strategic initiative to strengthen Serbia’s transmission network, enhance regional electricity exchange, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources.
