Big potential of geothermal springs in Serbia still unused

Serbia ranks first in Europe in the number of geothermal springs and wells per capita, but that potential is not used, it was said at the recent German-Serbian conference on geothermal springs in Belgrade.

- Serbia has 238 geothermal springs and wells, which ranks it first in Europe in the number of such wells per capita - said Dejan Milenic, professor at the Faculty of Geology and Mining in Belgrade.

He stressed that that potential was mainly unused, adding that there was a disproportion between the number of springs in an area and their exploitation.

According to him, geothermal springs on the territory of Belgrade and in the north and west of Serbia are used the most, and the aim is to increase its use in central Serbia as well, which is abundant with such springs.

Milenic said that the temperature of water in geothermal springs in Serbia are mainly lower, that is, up to 100 degrees Centigrade. He noted that the springs with the water temperature above 100 degrees Centigrade had not been registered, adding that that did not meant that there weren't any.

Geothermal springs with the water of lower temperature are mainly used for heating, he said and added that Serbia did not have any CHP plants.

He also said that Serbia had implemented projects to introduce a heating system utilizing geothermal springs in business and private facilities spanning a total of 200,000 square meters.