Serbia’s energy system is fully prepared and stable for this winter, we have enough gas and other energy, and about 60 heating plants across Serbia are operating 24 hours a day for citizens to spend their holidays in a pleasant atmosphere, said Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic. He said this during a visit to the employees of PUC “Belgrae Power Plants”, to whom he thanked for working 24 hours a day to keep their homes in Belgrade warm.
“We have a completely stable system in front of all energy companies. We have prepared well for the winter, all segments are functioning well, from generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, through gas and other energy supply to reliable operation of thermal systems throughout Serbia”, he said. Antic told reporters at the Belgrade Power Plants. which he visited with the president of the Belgrade City Assembly, Nikola Nikodijevic.
According to Antic, Serbia has full security of gas supply, adding that the Banatski Dvor warehouse is full and contains more than 500 million cubic meters of stored gas.
When it comes to other energy sources, Antic adds, there are about 1.6 million tonnes of coal in the landfills of Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS).
“A completely safe energy situation that guarantees us a normal and peaceful winter. For all of this, we have had a great deal of support from the Government of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic to prepare well, so this is one of the years that we can say we are best prepared for winter”, Antic emphasized.
Talking about the work of PUC “Belgrade Power Plants”, Antic said that it is a company of great importance for the overall energy system in the country, and that the “Novi Beograd” Heating Plant represents the largest individual producer and distributor in Southeast Europe.
Antic added that the Belgrade Power Plants system provides thermal heating for more than one million Belgraders, to heat more than 315,000 apartments and a total area, including office space, of 22 million square meters.
The minister also emphasized that a big investment year was ahead of the company, stating that the Belgrade heating plants together with the City of Belgrade, with the support of the Serbian Government are developing a project of thermal power lines from Obrenovac to the heating plant in New Belgrade.
“It is part of a long-term vision, a stabilization of the whole work system, additional energy security, work safety and efficient use of domestic resources”, Antic said.
He expects that a financing contract for the project will be signed this year, as well as that works will begin on construction of the heat transmission line shortly thereafter. Antic also stated that a significant project is the hot water pipeline from Vinca, that is, a future plant for the production of thermal electricity on waste, to the power plant at Konjarnik.
In addition, Antic added, “Belgrade Power Plants” have more than 1,600 kilometers of network in their system, which, he points out, should be properly maintained but also modernized.
He also recalled the closure of individual boilers, which, he added, are major polluters of the city, noting that four or five such boilers are planned to be shut down in 2020, reports RTV.
