Agreement reached on construction of hydroelectric power plant Buk Bijela on the Drina river – building starts in 2008

(Drina)

Minister of Mining and Energy, Aleksandar Popović, and Minister of Economy, Energy and Development of Republic of Srpska, Rajko Ubiparip, spoke yesterday (June 19, 2007) in Belgrade about possibilities of construction of hydroelectric power plant Buk Bijela on the Drina, as well as about projects that would contribute to fuller use of capacities of that river.

If Montenegro joins construction of hydroelectric power plant, the power of the facility will go up to 500 MW, but if it remains the project of Serbia and Republic of Srpska, the capacity of the hydroelectric power plant will be about 150 MW.

Between six and 12 months are needed for design of project documentation. Minister Popović announced that the building could start in 2008. They also talked about collaboration between two electric power companies, possibilities of their joint participation in the tenders in the countries of the region, as well as about other aspects of cooperation in energy sector.