Tender for construction of PSHPP Bistrica and building permit expected next year

The project to construct the "Bistrica" pumped-storage hydropower plant (PSHPP), the largest new investment by Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), is entering a more intensive preparatory phase, with the building permit for the main facility expected next year. Exploratory works are currently underway, and approximately 250 requests for technical requirements and approvals have been submitted for the project over the last six months. According to EPS, the tender for the construction of the main facility is scheduled to be launched in 2027.

The planned capacity of the "Bistrica" PSHPP is approximately 660 MW, with an expected annual electricity generation of around 1,600 GWh. According to EPS's plans, the power plant is intended to facilitate the more secure integration of 1,500 MW of new capacity from renewable energy sources.

– For Elektroprivreda Srbije, the construction of the "Bistrica" PSHPP is the most significant investment. It is the first pumped-storage hydropower plant that Serbia is building in over four decades, and it represents the largest new energy capacity, approximately 660 MW – stated Predrag Mladjenovic, Assistant Executive Director for Generation at EPS.

A substantial portion of the project documentation has been completed, numerous approvals and permits have been secured and the Government of Serbia has issued decisions declaring the expropriation of land and structures to be in the public interest. Furthermore, the location requirements for the main facility have been obtained.

– In the last six months alone, approximately 250 applications have been submitted to the competent authorities to obtain the necessary requirements for various types of permits and approvals – stated Mladjenovic.

Preparatory works are expected to begin in the coming period, encompassing the reconstruction of existing infrastructure and the construction of missing infrastructure. A loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is scheduled to be signed next year, during the specialized exhibition EXPO 2027.

New dam on Uvac River and 108-million-cubic-meter reservoir

The "Bistrica" PSHPP is planned for the area between the Uvac and Lim rivers. The construction of the "Klak" dam is envisioned on the Uvac River, 7.5 kilometers downstream from the existing "Radoinja" dam, creating a reservoir with a capacity of 108 million cubic meters of water. The existing "Potpec" reservoir on the Lim River would serve as the lower reservoir.

The project includes lowering the elevation of the upper reservoir from the originally planned 813 meters to 810 meters. This is intended to prevent the mixing of water from the Uvac and Lim rivers and to ensure a sustainable water supply for the residents of Priboj.

The construction of access roads is expected to improve infrastructure in the areas of Priboj, Prijepolje and Nova Varos. EPS anticipates that the project will also contribute to economic development, tourism and the return of young professionals to this region.

While preparations for the construction of a new facility are underway, EPS notes that it completed a full revitalization of the "Bajina Basta" PSHPP this year, the only such facility currently in operation in Serbia. Following more than four decades of service, EUR 35 million was invested in the plant's refurbishment, extending its estimated operational lifespan by another 30 to 40 years.

With two generating units and a total capacity of 614 MW, "Bajina Basta" serves as a vital pillar of the power system, particularly due to its ability to store energy for use during periods of peak consumption.

According to the statement, during the summer heatwaves, EPS took advantage of periods with more favorable electricity market prices to pump water into Lake Zaovine, thereby storing energy for times when demand, and prices, are higher.

– The "Bajina Basta" PSHPP was a key pillar of Serbia's power system throughout this summer – said Boris Jovanovic, Head of the Department for Revitalization and Modernization at the "Bajina Basta" HPP and PSHPP.

Elektroprivreda Srbije

EPS

JICA

PSHPP Bajina Bašta

Predrag Mlađenović

PSHPP Bistrica

tender for construction

building permit

location conditions

pumped storage hydropower plant