The last contingent of equipment for the construction of the new block B3 in the “Kostolac B” thermal power plant, which should be connected to the power grid in September 2023, arrived today by ship at the construction site in Kostolac.
The Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović, who attended the delivery of the new equipment with Chinese Ambassador Chen Bo, pointed out that the last contingent of equipment is crucial for the completion of the construction of the new block, which will bring Serbia a high degree of efficiency in the production of electricity.
“After three decades, Serbia is building a new energy plant that is extremely important for the production of electricity so that everyone feels safer, especially in these uncertain times”, said the minister.
Đedović and Chen emphasized the importance of this project, which is being implemented on the basis of the interstate agreement between Serbia and China, reports Tanjug.
“This is a very important facility that represents a new 350 megawatts in the production plant of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), which is about five percent of the production capacity of EPS. This is very important, both for the citizens and for the economy”, said the minister.
Ambassador Chen Bo reminded that the construction of block B3 of the Kostolac thermal power plant is important for the development of Serbia, especially for electricity production and energy security.
“Numerous difficulties in the delivery of equipment have been overcome, but with the efforts of the Chinese and Serbian sides, the realization of the project is entering the final phase.” The Chinese company that is carrying out the work is making every effort to complete the work within the deadline”, the Chinese ambassador pointed out.
On this occasion, Minister Đedović and the Ambassador of China visited the construction site and the works that are in the final phase.
As it was said, the commissioning of the plant is planned for September 2023.
The new block, with a capacity of 350 megawatts, is one of the largest investments in the domestic energy sector, worth 618 million dollars.
Most of the funding for the project, 85 percent, was provided by long-term loans from the Chinese “Exim” bank, while 15 percent was provided by EPS. The construction of the new plant will increase the security of the energy system in Serbia in the long term, Politika reports.
