Memorandum Signed on the Construction of Djerdap 3 Pumped-Storage Hydropower Plant - Serbia Plans to Begin Spatial Planning and Technical Design Documentation This Year, Romania Sets Conditions

Serbia and Romania signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bucharest to facilitate the exchange of information related to the Djerdap 3 Pumped-Storage Hydropower Plant project. As stated after the signing of the document, Serbia plans to begin preparing the spatial planning and technical design documentation for the construction of this pumped-storage hydropower plant this year.

We have already established joint working groups with our Romanian partners and intend to ensure a regular exchange of information. The Djerdap 3 pumped-storage hydropower plant will bring multiple benefits to Serbia, including significant electricity storage capacity, a favorable position for electricity balancing and the integration of cleaner energy sources, as well as greater grid stability, all of which are of exceptional importance in the emerging era of electricity - said Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, who signed the memorandum together with Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Energy Ilie Bolojan.

She recalled that the Djerdap 3 project is being developed in accordance with the Strategic Energy Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the United States of America.

Based on that agreement, a public call for expressions of interest was launched for companies that could participate in the project. Six companies responded to the call, and the evaluation of the submitted applications is currently underway and will be completed very soon - she said.

Romanian media also reported on the signing of the memorandum, noting that Bucharest has set a number of conditions for the construction of the hydropower plant, whose value is estimated at EUR 2.6 billion.

Romania seeks stronger cooperation with Serbia in the energy sector. It is natural to look for joint solutions. Our experience with Djerdap shows that we can cooperate on energy projects - Bolojan stated.

According to the Romanian outlet Stirile ProTV, Djerdap 3 is a project that deserves serious consideration, and for Romania it is important that its development be aligned with the operation and electricity generation of the Djerdap 1 and Djerdap 2 power plants, ensure the protection of riverside areas in both Romania and Bulgaria, and take navigation on the Danube into account.

The project involves the construction of a hydropower plant with an estimated installed capacity of 2,400 MW. Djerdap 3 would become one of the largest hydropower plants in the region, after Djerdap 1 and Djerdap 2, which are jointly operated by Romania and Serbia.

The investment includes the construction of an upper reservoir at a higher elevation on the territory of Serbia, which would be connected by pipelines to the Djerdap hydropower plant reservoir. During periods of excess electricity, water would be pumped into the upper reservoir, while during periods of high demand it would be released to generate electricity. According to the relevant authorities, the project would contribute to increasing energy storage capacity and strengthening energy security in the region.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Djerdap 3 Pumped-Storage Hydropower Plant

Djerdap 3 PSHPP

Djerdap 1 Hydropower Plant

Djerdap 2 Hydropower Plant

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic

Ilie Bolojan

Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating the Exchange of Information Related to the Djerdap 3 Pumped-Storage Hydropower Plant Project