Green electricity on Mokra Gora - EPS, Emir Kusturica build one biomass, two hydroelectric, two solar power plants

The first polyphase hydroelectric power plant in Europe and the second of the kind in the world, after the one at Niagara Falls, was put in operation in Uzice 112 years ago. One century later, the biggest town in western Serbia is taking a new step forward with the formation of a joint venture by the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS) and the company Lotika from Mokra Gora.

The new company will co-finance and participate in the construction of two solar and two hydroelectric power plants, as well as one biomass power plant, with the total capacity of five megawatts. These new energy sources will be built on Mokra Gora, where a protocol of cooperation was signed Wednesday between two aforementioned companies.

A joint venture formed by that protocol will finance the construction of two hydroelectric power plants on the Crni Rzav river, with the capacity of 1 MW each, two power plants running on non-accumulated solar energy, also with the capacity of 1 MW each, and one biomass power plant with the same capacity. Aleksandar Vlajcic, director of EPS Obnovljivi Izvori (EPS Renewable Sources), signed the protocol on behalf of the CEO of EPS, while the celebrated film director Emir Kusturica signed it on behalf of his company Lotika.

As EPS announced, the Mokra Gora project will help them define criteria for the creation of conditions to improve energy efficiency and environment protection, and particularly to ensure sustainable use of protected areas.

- My motives to engage in this project are human and social. Our future directly depends on such undertakings. We've managed to save Mokra Gora from destruction by the intended exploitation of nickel, a non-renewable resource, so that there is no reason not to start the exploitation of renewable energy sources - sun, water and biomass - on Mokra Gora, which has become a protected natural area in the meantime - says Kusturica.