Works on the gas thermal power plant (TE-TO) in Pancevo are in the final phase and the goal is to be put into operation in the third quarter of this year, Gazprom Energoholding Serbia director Pavel Sergeyev told Tanjug, adding that Gazprom Energoholing plans to build other thermal power plants in Serbia, as well as the construction of a wind farm.
He pointed out that works on preparations for commissioning are currently being carried out at TE-TO Pancevo.
– As investors, we have provided stable and uninterrupted financing of works on the construction of the power plant. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the introduction of a state of emergency in Serbia and difficulties in delivering equipment and staff, the deadline for putting the facility into operation has been moved, but our goal is to put the thermal power plant into operation in the third quarter of 2021 – said Sergeyev.
He pointed out that the operators of TE-TO Pancevo underwent training at the facilities of Gazprom Engergoholding in Russia, where they learned about the advanced experience of colleagues in terms of reliable and safe operation of energy equipment.
Sergeyev said that the realization of the project is aimed at meeting the needs of the Pancevo Oil Refinery, which is owned by NIS for thermal energy and the supply of electricity to consumers in Serbia and neighboring countries.
– TE-TO Pancevo will be the first steam-gas power plant in Serbia with modern and high-tech equipment, while the use of natural gas as a fuel is more environmentally friendly, and thus will contribute to achieving Serbia’s goals in terms of sustainable development – he said.
He added that within the realization of this project, an opportunity is being created for the opening of new jobs, for which experts from Serbia are being accepted.
Sergeyev pointed out that Serbia and the Balkan region as a whole remain one of the promising directions for the development of Gazprom Energoholding’s international business.
– We are considering projects for the construction of thermal power plants on the territory of Serbia to meet the needs of the population and the industrial sector for thermal energy, as well as projects within the cooperation with a guaranteed consumer of process steam. Having in mind the goals of Serbia in terms of reducing the carbon footprint, we are considering the possibility of participating in the realization of alternative energy projects, including an independent project for the construction of a wind farm with an installed capacity of 200 megawatts – he emphasized.
Sergeyev revealed that preparatory works for the project are currently being carried out in areas with the necessary wind potential.
– We will carefully follow the auctions announced by the Ministry of Mining and Energy for wind farm projects – he concluded.
TE-TO Pancevo, whose construction began in 2019, has a capacity of 200 MW, and will use natural gas as its main fuel, eKapija reports.
