Serbia not to give up thermal power plants while undergoing decarbonization

Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic stated that Serbia had a vision of decarbonization, but that, in order not to run into additional problems with the transmission system through decarbonization, it planned to use its thermal power plants for some time.

Speaking at the panel “Breaking Dependence, Strengthening Competitiveness: Energy Challenges of the Western Balkans” at the “BELTALKS: Belgrade Economics Talks” forum, she pointed out that, in 2024, Serbia had completed a new thermal power plant in Kostolac, built according to all EU standards, with an additional stable 350 megawatts.

– In addition, we plan to invest more in our mining equipment to ensure that we have our own resources until we decarbonize – she added.

She stated that, until recently, nuclear energy and the construction of nuclear power plants had been banned in Serbia, but that the law in that area had been changed.

– We already have research institutes that have helped in that process, but we can actually plan the introduction of nuclear power plants. That is a difficult task. We need people, we need research institutes, we need academic institutions – said the minister, adding that Serbia was in the first phase of preparation towards the International Atomic Energy Agency, because the steps that a country must fulfill were very clear.

According to her, within the framework of human resources, work is being done to increase the capacities in the government so that this program can be prepared and work will continue on changing the energy sector, so that it can be diversified and decarbonized while still having stable energy sources that will provide the basis for that.

– We are already a leader in the EU Energy Community in the past two years, Serbia has been recognized as the country with the greatest achievements in reforms – emphasized Djedovic Handanovic.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Dubravka Đedović Handanović

BELTALKS

Belgrade Economics Talks