According to the energy balance of Serbia, it has been determined that the total available energy in the year 2024 will amount to 17.057 million tons of oil equivalents, which is four percent more than the total estimated energy supply in 2023.
The share of the required amount of primary energy to be provided from domestic production is 58 percent, while 42 percent will come from net imports. It is planned that this year, the import of oil derivatives will be higher by 22 percent compared to the estimated import in 2023, and there are also plans to import 10 percent more coal, six percent more gas, and 19 percent more electricity, as stated in this year’s Energy Balance.
In 2024, if everything goes according to plan, the import of crude oil will be nine percent lower than in 2023, while domestic production will cover 23 percent of the demand for this resource.
However, the planned domestic gross production of derivatives is 3.616 million tons, which is 11 percent less compared to the estimated gross domestic production of derivatives in 2023, which amounted to 4.081 million tons.
“In light of the total demand for oil derivatives in 2024, as well as the planned domestic production of oil derivatives and available reserves, the deficient required quantities of oil derivatives amounting to 1,100 million tons will be secured through imports, which is 22 percent more than the estimated import in 2023,” stated in this year’s Energy Balance.
The import of gas covers 91 percent of the needs
When it comes to natural gas, the total domestic production in 2024 is planned to be 278.707 million cubic meters, which is 11 percent less than the estimated production in 2023.
“The import of natural gas will cover the remaining required quantities in 2024, amounting to 2,799.1 million cubic meters, which is six percent more than the estimated import from the previous year,” stated in the Energy Balance.
In this document, which determines the annual amounts of energy and energy sources needed for a reliable, secure, and high-quality supply to end-users of energy and energy sources, it is also mentioned that consumption is planned to be 3,077.807 million cubic meters of gas, which is six percent more than the previous year, with 91 percent of the required quantities coming from imports.
A 28 percent increase in coal from underwater mining is expected
In 2024, coal production from underground mines is expected to increase by 11 percent compared to the previous year, and from surface mines in Kolubara and Kostolac, a seven percent increase is anticipated.
“The planned production from the underwater coal mining (Kovin) in 2024 is 240 thousand tons, which is 28 percent more than in 2023,” emphasized in the Energy Balance.
In the structure of domestic coals, lignite accounts for 98 percent, while two percent is attributed to bituminous and sub-bituminous coal. Of the total quantity of coal available for consumption, it is planned that 89 percent of this production will be used for electricity generation in thermal power plants in 2024, as stated in the key energy document.
The planned coal import for 2024 is 5.5 million tons, which is 10 percent more than the estimated import in 2023.
It is worth noting that last year, the planned coal import for 2023 was 4.8 million tons, which is 70 percent more than the estimated import in 2022, amounting to 2.8 million tons.
The import of electricity is increasing by almost a fifth, with a significant rise in production from renewable energy sources
The gross production of electrical energy in 2024 is planned to be 40,585 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is one percentage point higher than the estimated production in 2023.
The majority of electricity is expected to come from thermal power plants – 25,894 GWh or 64 percent, while hydroelectric power plants will contribute 10,504 GWh or 25.9 percent. Wind power plants will contribute 1,309 GWh, and solar power plants 129 GWh, with 15 GWh coming from customer-producers.
However, the total demand will not be entirely covered by domestic production, so the planned import (including transit) of electrical energy in 2024 is 6,401 GWh, which is 19 percent more than the estimated import in 2023.
On the other hand, the planned export (including transit) of electrical energy in 2024 is 8,050 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is 10 percent more than the estimated export from the previous year.
Transmission and distribution losses in 2024 are planned to be 4,008 GWh, which is two percent more than the previous year.
A significant increase is planned in the utilization of renewable energy sources in the solar and wind energy sectors. In the Energy Balance, there is an expectation of using solar energy in 2024 amounting to 129 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is a 207 percent increase compared to the estimated energy in 2023.
For biogas, a usage growth of 41 percent is estimated, while the planned utilization of wind energy in 2024 is 1,309 GWh, which is 28 percent more than the previous year. The only area where the production is planned to remain the same as in 2023 is geothermal energy, with the Energy Balance not covering the use through heat pumps.
“In order to implement this energy balance and ensure the security of energy and fuel supply, it is necessary for companies to secure the planned quantities of energy and fuels from domestic production and imports. This will enable regular and orderly supply, ensure the execution of all planned overhauls, and continue activities aimed at increasing the utilization of renewable energy sources and their participation in the Energy Balance,” stated the Government of Serbia in its conclusion on the adoption of this document.
As emphasized, it is extremely important to create conditions for securing an adequate quantity of energy and fuel from domestic production. This aims to reduce import dependence and ensure a secure, reliable, and high-quality energy supply.
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