David Žarković, Assistant Director of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) for Power Portfolio Management, assured that Serbia is not facing any electricity shortages. He explained that EPS is fully meeting market demands through its own electricity production and strategic imports.
Žarković informed the specialized portal Energija Balkana that EPS is nearing the completion of overhauls on its production capacities. A reversible plant has already resumed operation and major overhauls and revitalizations of thermal power capacities are complete. Consequently, EPS anticipates no issues with electricity production, even during the upcoming winter season.
The Kostolac B3 thermal power plant has entered trial operation, and it is expected to be fully operational by October, adding 350 megawatts to the grid. This addition significantly enhances EPS’s ability to ensure a reliable electricity supply throughout the winter.
Žarković highlighted that EPS has successfully stored over 1.5 million tons of coal, with plans to increase this to more than two million tons by September. The storage levels and ongoing coal imports contribute to the stability of EPS’s electricity production.
According to Žarković, importing coal remains cost-effective for EPS. The price of electricity generated from imported coal is lower than the cost of importing equivalent amounts of electricity.
To prepare for scheduled overhauls, EPS has strategically purchased electricity in advance during periods of lower costs. By optimizing production capacity operations, EPS has managed to secure electricity purchases at rates 20 to 25 percent lower than market prices, particularly during ‘solar hours.’
