Djedovic Handanovic meets with World Bank officials: One of Europe's largest solar projects is in the works

Photo: MRE

Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic has met with a World Bank delegation visiting Serbia, led by Infrastructure Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Charles Cormier.

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They discussed financing of infrastructure projects in the energy sector.

Djedovic Handanovic stated that diversification of energy supply sources and routes and strengthening of energy security with new capacities of state-owned renewable energy sources remain the priorities for the further development of Serbia's energy sector.

Photo: MRE

"Two years ago, we started diversification in the gas sector by building the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection, through which we get gas from Azerbaijan, and we also have access to the TAP and TANAP gas pipelines. We are currently preparing technical documentation for gas interconnections with North Macedonia and Romania, that is, we are continuing work on expanding the possibilities of supplying energy to our country from different directions. We are also completing the separation in the gas sector, which is part of the Reform Agenda that we are implementing on the path to the European Union (membership)," she said.

The minister announced that the spatial plan for the Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnection has been adopted, while a feasibility study with a cost-effectiveness analysis and an environmental impact assessment study for the gas interconnector in the territory of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia have been carried out as part of the technical assistance provided by the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

Photo: MRE

The construction of this gas pipeline will allow further connection with the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as gas deliveries from Greece, through North Macedonia to Serbia, and further to the rest of Europe. The Serbia-Romania gas interconnection, for which a memorandum of understanding has been signed by the relevant ministries, is in the phase of technical documentation preparation.

"The expected completion of both these gas pipelines is within the next two years," said Djedovic Handanovic.

According to the minister, over the last two years, 426 megawatts of state-owned capacity has been added to the grid, while a new thermal unit, the first wind farm and a solar power plant were launched in Kostolac as part of Serbia's electric utility enterprise EPS.

Photo: MRE

"We are also preparing one of the largest renewable energy sources projects in Europe, a one gigawatt capacity solar power plant, with battery storage of 200 megawatts, which has a wider significance for us because it will bring more security and green energy into the state ownership, reduce emissions of harmful gases and will have additional importance with the start of implementation of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), as well as for making the EPS portfolio more green, for which we also expect the support from World Bank's MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency)," Djedovic Handanovic said.

Charles Cormier praised the reforms implemented by Serbia in the energy sector, as well as the readiness to connect with the EU electricity market.

"We are working to continue the dialogue on the financing of capital projects and the reforms that you are implementing, through which you ensure greater energy security, for which we have developed various support instruments," Cormier is quoted as saying.

(Telegraf Biznis)