Priority of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) in environmental protection and the largest investment volume of around 650 million euros is foreseen in the field of air quality protection, through the construction of flue gas desulphurisation systems and primary and secondary measures for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in thermal power plants, EPS said.
In doing so, EPS meets stringent EU environmental standards and lowers emissions below the limits set by domestic and European regulations, the company said.
The total additional environmental investments of EPS in the coming years are planned to be worth over one billion euros in a series of projects that protect air, water and soil and improve the quality of the environment.
In 2001, EPS began the process of rebuilding and then revitalizing and modernizing production facilities, with power increases and environmental improvements, all with the aim of maintaining security of supply, increasing energy efficiency of plants and meeting EU standards.
So far, all thermal power plants have completed the reconstruction of electrostatic precipitators, which has significantly reduced the emissions of particulate matter and PM particles. 97 million euros has been invested in it since 2004, resulting in EPS, which is 2.5 times less emissions of powders in 2018 than in 2011.
EPS has completed construction of the plant at TPP Kostolac B, which has invested 96 million euros and warranty measurements have shown that sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions are well below the current European standard of 200 milligrams per cubic meter.
“The most valuable project, which is underway, with an investment of 217 million euros, will provide a flue gas desulphurisation system for four TENT A blocks. This is one of the most important investments in the region due to the amount of financial investments and positive environmental effects, as well as for fulfilling obligations to the Energy Community”, they said in EPS.
Projects are also planned for the remaining two blocks in TENT A, as well as blocks in TENT B, TPP “Kostolac A” and a new block “Kostolac B3”, which is under construction.
According to EPS estimates, environmental investments will bring 90 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions by 45 percent, 45 percent nitrogen oxides and 95 percent powders by 2025 compared to 2008-2012.
EPS states that full attention has been paid to the construction of a flue gas desulphurisation plant in TENT A, which is being implemented under an agreement between the governments of Serbia and Japan. Under that agreement, EPS and Japan’s JICA signed a project financing loan agreement, and the EPS construction agreement and consortium led by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems signed in September. In 2017. The contractor consortium also includes ITOCHU Corporation of Japan and MPP Jedinstvo of Sevojno.
The flue gas desulphurisation system in Obrenovac is being built for four 350 megawatt TENT A units, which use lignite as fuel from the surface mines of the Kolubara Mining Basin. Units A3, A4, A5 and A6 will be subject to a flue gas desulphurisation technology using limestone as a reagent. As a by-product, it will produce gypsum, which can be used in construction and, mixed with ash, for road construction.
Work began in February 2019. The project implementation deadline is 42 months with an additional 12 months warranty period. Upon completion of this project, the expected level of emissions will be reduced by more than nine times.
More than 1,600 local workers will be involved in the various project phases, N1 reports.
