Serbia's electrical grid under extreme strain

Serbia's electrical grid continues to operate under extreme strain although there has been an overall improvement, the authorities have said. The country is importing more than 20 million kWh of power every day, a working group set up to ensure uninterrupted energy supply has announced. The value of imports - now coming mostly from the direction of Hungary - reach EUR 3mn daily. Serbia's electrical grid under extreme strain Serbians have been once again urged to cut down on their electricity consumption whenever possible while the period of extremely cold weather persists. Working group member Petar Skundric told reporters on Tuesday in Belgrade that the government measures had yielded "certain results", but that the citizens have not responded well to calls to save electricity. The working group is set to meet again on February 20, and Skundric noted that it may recommend to the government to abolish its state of emergency measures, because warmer weather is expected next week. In the meantime, state-run electrical company EPS General Director Dragomir Markovic said that the situation had improved, but that there were still issues related to low water levels on the rivers tha affect production in hydro-power plants, and well as regarding the deliveries of heating oil. Markovic said that electricity consumption on Monday decreased by five to six million kWh, and that this was achieved mostly by limiting supplies to small and medium industries. When it comes to households, their consumption had increased slightly, he revealed. Milutin Prodanovic of the Infrastructure and Energy Ministry told B92 that power consumption went down by some nine percent in the past three days, on the state level. Prodanovic said that grid failures were repaired in the record amount of time, and appealed on the citizens to be patient for the next couple of days and continue to consume less electricity, at the same time stating that he expected the consumption to stabilize. News agencies are reporting today that coal production in the Kolubara strip mines was stable on Tuesday, while on Monday, 50,000 tons of coal were delivered to power plants. A major problem faced by the country's electrical system is now the situation with the rivers. After a long drought in the fall and winter, the hydro-power plants still work at reduced capacity, depriving the grid of some 30 million kWh daily. Meanwhile, Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) is unable to deliver the necessary daily amounts of heating oil to EPS, it was also heard on Tuesday. The working group meets in Belgrade on Tuesday (Beta) B92 Beta Tanjug

Serbia's electrical grid under extreme strain

Serbians have been once again urged to cut down on their electricity consumption whenever possible while the period of extremely cold weather persists.

Working group member Petar Škundrić told reporters on Tuesday in Belgrade that the government measures had yielded "certain results", but that the citizens have not responded well to calls to save electricity.

The working group is set to meet again on February 20, and Škundrić noted that it may recommend to the government to abolish its state of emergency measures, because warmer weather is expected next week.

In the meantime, state-run electrical company EPS General Director Dragomir Marković said that the situation had improved, but that there were still issues related to low water levels on the rivers tha affect production in hydro-power plants, and well as regarding the deliveries of heating oil.

Marković said that electricity consumption on Monday decreased by five to six million kWh, and that this was achieved mostly by limiting supplies to small and medium industries.

When it comes to households, their consumption had increased slightly, he revealed.

Milutin Prodanović of the Infrastructure and Energy Ministry told B92 that power consumption went down by some nine percent in the past three days, on the state level.

Prodanović said that grid failures were repaired in the record amount of time, and appealed on the citizens to be patient for the next couple of days and continue to consume less electricity, at the same time stating that he expected the consumption to stabilize.

News agencies are reporting today that coal production in the Kolubara strip mines was stable on Tuesday, while on Monday, 50,000 tons of coal were delivered to power plants.

A major problem faced by the country's electrical system is now the situation with the rivers. After a long drought in the fall and winter, the hydro-power plants still work at reduced capacity, depriving the grid of some 30 million kWh daily.

Meanwhile, Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) is unable to deliver the necessary daily amounts of heating oil to EPS, it was also heard on Tuesday.