Serbia Open to Cooperation on the Middle Drina Hydropower Project – Memorandum for the Project to Be Drafted

Serbia is open to cooperation on the Middle Drina hydropower project, where the first step would be to assess the existing level of technical documentation and establish a joint working body. In connection with this project, a memorandum is planned to be drafted, as agreed by Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vedran Lakic, and Minister of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska Petar Djokic. The three ministers discussed cooperation on the use of the hydropower potential of the Drina River and the development of gas interconnections.

- We have resources that we share, such as the potential of the Drina River itself. Serbia is leading in readiness for integration with the European electricity market, but the goal is for the entire region to become part of the European market and to use every opportunity to ensure more secure energy supply for our citizens. We also have a common interest in considering gas interconnections, because the entire region needs new gas supply sources, said Djedovic Handanovic.

She added that Serbia is ready to continue activities on the Upper Drina Hydropower System project once the necessary conditions are met within Bosnia and Herzegovina. She recalled that around EUR 15 million has been invested in preparatory works, which clearly demonstrates commitment to the project, adding that Serbia, through Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), continues to invest in the joint venture.

Djedovic Handanovic also presented Serbia's plans for diversification in the gas sector through the construction of gas interconnections with Romania and North Macedonia. The meeting also examined possible options for improving gas interconnections between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would contribute to greater regional gas supply security.

Lakic emphasized that cooperation on hydropower projects on the middle section of the Drina River should be intensified, including opening discussions on possible implementation models for the projects. He also stated that the development of gas infrastructure is one of the priority issues for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and informed the participants about the Federation's plans in this field, including the implementation of the Southern Gas Interconnection project and the construction of gas-fired power plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Djokic highlighted the need to continue activities on the already launched Upper Drina Hydropower System project, considering that environmental impact assessment studies have been completed, and assessed that there is significant potential in the project involving three hydropower plants on the middle section of the Drina River.

- At this moment, I believe that we are losing out as a region, and especially as project participants, because we are not utilizing the potential of the Drina River, Djokic stated.

Elektroprivreda Srbije ad Beograd

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Federalno ministarstvo energije, rudarstva i industrije Mostar

Ministarstvo energetike i rudarstva RS

elektorprivreda Srbije

Upper Drina Hydropower System

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Ministry of Energy Mining and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ministry of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic

Vedran Lakic

Petar Djokic

Middle Drina hydropower project