“Serbia could become regional energy leader”

Energy Minister Petar Skundric says that Serbia can become an energy leader in South-East Europe if it implements a modern energy infrastructure. Skundric told an international electro-energy symposium, entitled “Elektrane 2008”, that the increasing demand for energy could only be met with modern infrastructure. “Serbia could become regional energy leader” The main topics for discussion at the conference were the production and use of energy, as well as environmental protection. As far as electro-energy was concerned, Skundric said that the national electricity company, EPS, in cooperation with the Energy Ministry, had begun activities that would enable the construction of new capacities for the production of electrical energy. These include Kolubara B thermo-electric plant project, with a capacity of 350 megawatts, and the Nikola Tesla B plant, block 3, which will have 700 megawatts of power. Skundric explained that these projects would be implemented together with investment by EPS and a strategic partner to be chosen by way of a public tender. He said that the tender for a strategic partner in this project was expected to be announced by the end of the year. The minister said that a natural gas thermo-electric plant was due to be built in Novi Sad, and that discussions were under way with Russian partners for the resumption of reconstruction of the Djerdap hydro-electric plant, as were talks with the Republic of Srpska on joint work on exploiting the hydro potential of the Drina river. Skundric said that energy efficiency must be improved and proposed that the ministry prepare changes to the Energy Law envisioning the formation of an energy efficiency fund, where EUR 25mn would be deposited every year, with money to be used to finance projects. He said that the ministry was also working on a law for the rational use of energy whose application would encourage energy saving activities and the use of more energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies.

“Serbia could become regional energy leader”

The main topics for discussion at the conference were the production and use of energy, as well as environmental protection.

As far as electro-energy was concerned, Škundrić said that the national electricity company, EPS, in cooperation with the Energy Ministry, had begun activities that would enable the construction of new capacities for the production of electrical energy.

These include Kolubara B thermo-electric plant project, with a capacity of 350 megawatts, and the Nikola Tesla B plant, block 3, which will have 700 megawatts of power.

Škundrić explained that these projects would be implemented together with investment by EPS and a strategic partner to be chosen by way of a public tender.

He said that the tender for a strategic partner in this project was expected to be announced by the end of the year.

The minister said that a natural gas thermo-electric plant was due to be built in Novi Sad, and that discussions were under way with Russian partners for the resumption of reconstruction of the Đerdap hydro-electric plant, as were talks with the Republic of Srpska on joint work on exploiting the hydro potential of the Drina river.

Škundrić said that energy efficiency must be improved and proposed that the ministry prepare changes to the Energy Law envisioning the formation of an energy efficiency fund, where EUR 25mn would be deposited every year, with money to be used to finance projects.

He said that the ministry was also working on a law for the rational use of energy whose application would encourage energy saving activities and the use of more energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies.