The European Commission approved EUR 8.44 million for the reconstruction of HPP Bistrica and the Central Balkan Corridor Feasibility Study

The European Commission, through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), granted our country EUR 8.44 million in non-reimbursable aid in the field of energy, the Ministry of Mining and Energy has announced.

As stated on the Government's official website, these funds will be used to finance the reconstruction of HPP Bistrica and the preparation of a Feasibility Study with an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Central Balkan Corridor project.

For the Bistrica HPP reconstruction project, Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) was granted a EUR 7.72 million investment grant, which covers about one fifth of the estimated investment value, amounting to EUR 36.1 million.

On this occasion, the Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Djedovic, emphasized that by replacing the equipment at HPP Bistrica, built more than 60 years ago, its lifespan will be extended, which will contribute to the security of supply, increase the share of production from renewable energy sources, and reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

According to her, project-technical and spatial documentation has been prepared for this project and construction permits have been obtained. The beginning of the construction works is planned for the second half of the next year.

EUR 724,482 has been allocated for the preparation of a Feasibility Study for the Central Balkan Corridor project with an environmental impact assessment, which involves the construction of a new transmission line that would connect central Serbia with the Kostolac region, and in the second phase, the connection of Serbia and Bulgaria with a new 400 kV transmission line and the construction of new transmission lines that would connect the eastern and western Serbia. The beneficiary of the funds is EMS.

The Central Balkan Corridor, whose estimated investment value is around EUR 195 million, is included in the Pan-European Transmission System Development Plan 2022 of the European Association for the Cooperation of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E).

Funds for the rehabilitation of HPP Bistrica were allocated within the eighth call for investment grants of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), whereas for the preparation of a Feasibility Study with an environmental impact assessment for the Central Balkan Corridor project, funds were allocated from the 29th call for technical assistance of the WBIF, the statement concludes.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Elektroprivreda Srbije ad Beograd

Elektrodistribucija Srbije d.o.o. Beograd

Government of Serbia

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Elektroprivreda Srbije

EPS

EDS

Elektrodistribucija Srbija

European Commission

Investment Framework for the Western Balkans

WBIF

European Association of Transmission System Operators

ENTSO E

Dubravka Djedovic

HPP Bistrica

reconstruction of HPP Bistrica

construction of the Central Balkan corridor

Central Balkan corridor