Tender for construction of several hydroelectric power plants in upper and central section of the Drina to be announced soon

- The Republic of Srpska is going to announce a public invitation for selection of strategic partner for construction of hydroelectric power plants in the upper section of the Drina river, and strategic partner will be selected in agreement with Serbia - Slobodan Puhalac, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska, said at the regional ministerial conference on climatic changes and energy in Belgrade.

- Once we select the strategic partner, we will then know who will be working on research, development, construction and exploitation - Puhalac pointed out.

According to him, hydroelectric power plants Buk Bijela, Sutjeska, Foča and Paunci will be built in the upper section of the Drina, while several facilities will also be built in the central section of that river. Puhalac expressed expectation that the future strategic partners for both areas would be selected in relatively short time.

The projected power for the upper section of the Drina amounts to about 350 MW according to the current concept that excludes Montenegro, while the capacity of hydroelectric power plants in the central section of the Drina would amount to about 300 MW in the first phase.

- The Drina river has the potential of minimum 1,000 MW of installed power, and we want to have aforementioned projects implemented with the companies that suit us the best as strategic partners as soon as possible. One should be aware of the fact that the latest facility on the Drina was built 20 years ago, and that the realization of construction of new ones takes minimum six years - said Puhalac.

He also pointed out that the energy potential represented the development opportunity for the Republic of Srpska regardless of the limits and norms that can be expected after the conference on climatic changes that would be held in Kopenhagen at the beginning of December.