The Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, announced that trial tests at the Kostolac B3 thermal power plant have been successfully completed, and warranty tests will commence this weekend, lasting up to three weeks. “The block will be operational throughout the testing period, and we will also prepare all necessary documentation to hand over the block to the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS),” the minister stated during an interview with RTS.
Đedović Handanović confirmed that electricity and gas prices for households will remain unchanged throughout the heating season.
According to her, EPS has been exporting electricity for over a month. “Electroprivreda acts as both a producer and a trader. Sometimes, it imports electricity when market prices are so low that it becomes profitable to import a certain amount and sell it at favorable rates later,” she explained. The renovation season has concluded, with the exception of the last block at ‘Bajina Bašta.’
In light of the current geopolitical situation, the minister emphasized the importance of maintaining robust reserves of all energy sources. “Currently, we have around 2.2 million tons of coal in landfills, along with about 150,000 tons in the Port of Ploče (in Croatia) that needs to be transported. Our target was to reach around two million tons before the heating season, and we have achieved that,” Đedović Handanović noted.
She also highlighted the need to focus on gas and oil reserves. “We have approximately 500 million cubic meters of gas, split between Serbia and Hungary. The expansion project for the gas storage facility in Banatski dvor has begun, with a goal to complete it in the next two years. This will enhance our safety and security,” she added.
Regarding oil reserves, she stated that Serbia currently has enough for about 95 days of average consumption, which provides a certain level of assurance. “We are actively working on increasing our oil and oil derivative stocks to ensure safety in unforeseen circumstances,” concluded Đedović Handanović.
