Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, stated today that the construction of the desulfurization plant for flue gas in the Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla A is in its final stages and is expected to be put into trial operation by April this year.
“The construction of the desulfurization plant in the Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla A is one of the most important environmental projects in our country, ensuring cleaner air for the residents of Obrenovac and its surroundings, as well as reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by about 10 times. We expect to put this plant into trial operation by April this year, contributing to a healthier environment, extending the life of the power plant, and aligning with the European Union’s limit values,” said the minister.
Đedović Handanović pointed out that the flue gas desulfurization system in TENT A is being constructed for four blocks, A3-A6, along with a facility for limestone preparation and gypsum production, a by-product that can be used in the construction industry.
“Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, the desulfurization plant not only enables the reduction of the impact of harmful gases on the environment and human health but also provides the opportunity to produce gypsum from waste as a by-product for use in the construction industry. This demonstrates that EPS can play a significant role in the circular economy in our country. This week, during the testing of the plant, the first quantities of gypsum were produced from waste in TENT A and transported to the silo, where we witnessed that blocks A5 and A6 were not emitting the usual dark smoke, which are the first indicators of the significance of this plant. In the coming weeks, final works and trial testing will continue on blocks A3 and A4 to soon have a functional and fully completed plant,” she said.
The completion of this project is important for further bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Japan in the field of energy.
The desulfurization project in TENT A is being implemented with the financial support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), while the Japanese company Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems is the main contractor. The successful completion of this project provides a good foundation for future collaboration with Japanese partners who have shown great interest. We discussed this in more detail last year in Tokyo regarding the construction of the Bistrica reversible hydroelectric power plant, which is one of the most important projects in the energy sector,” said Đedović Handanović. She added that a large number of domestic companies are participating in the construction of the desulfurization plant, gaining knowledge, experience, and references in a project of great importance for the energy sector and environmental protection in Serbia.
The Minister emphasized that Serbia has ambitious goals in the process of decarbonizing the energy sector and that new investments in energy infrastructure and environmental protection are needed to ensure new capacities for green energy production and to modernize existing thermal power plants in accordance with the highest environmental standards.
“In addition to the construction of the desulfurization plant in TENT A, the construction of the desulfurization plant in TENT B is underway. The physical realization of the project has exceeded 60%, and the completion of the plant will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by about 20 times. Also, blocks B1 and B2 in Kostolac have already received desulfurization plants for flue gas. Energy transition implies that, in addition to introducing new capacities from RES, we adhere to the highest environmental standards in our thermal capacities, which will continue to be an important pillar in the energy mix,” said Đedović Handanović.
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