The completion of the high-speed railway between Novi Sad and Subotica, the section of the Miloš Veliki highway from Preljina to Požega, the fast traffic route Šabac-Loznica, as well as part of the Morava Corridor passing through Kraljevo and Trstenik, are just some of the numerous projects expected to be witnessed in 2024, at least according to the officials’ announcements.
Among the projects whose implementation is expected to start in the next year, there are several uncertainties – such as whether work will begin on the construction of solar power plants for the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) valued at 1.4 billion euros, how far the search for a strategic partner for the construction of the reversible hydropower plant Bistrica has progressed, and when the construction of the gas interconnection with North Macedonia will commence.
Rail traffic between Belgrade and Subotica was suspended back in 2019, and three years later, in March 2022, the Soko train once again connected Belgrade and Novi Sad.
As stated by the Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, during their visit to the viaduct in Vrbas, the railway line from Novi Sad to Subotica should be completed by the end of this year.
“China Railway International Corporation will make every effort in the construction of the Novi Sad-Subotica-border Hungary-Serbia section and aim for its faster completion and commissioning, thus contributing to deepening the cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe,” stated the Chinese company engaged in the railway construction.
Vesić also announced that by the end of the year, the construction of a high-speed railway to Niš could potentially begin, which is a project valued at nearly 2.8 billion euros.
In 2024, according to officials’ announcements, the completion of several significant roadways is expected in terms of road traffic.
Firstly, a section of the Miloš Veliki highway from Preljina to Požega should be completed by the end of September. Last spring, the deadline for completion was essentially extended for contractors who faced the most challenges while digging tunnels at Munjino Brdo and Laz.
They also encountered protests from locals in Pakovraću near Preljina, who demanded a better price for expropriated land and property.
Minister Vesić stated in a New Year’s interview with Tanjug that in 2024, the completion of sections of the Morava Corridor, spanning 46 kilometers, is expected. These sections will provide connections to highways for Kraljevo and Trstenik.
In the previous term of the Serbian Parliament, another loan for the construction of the Morava Corridor was approved. This project is being executed by the American-Turkish consortium Bechtel-Enka, and the cost has now risen to 1.6 billion euros.
Additionally, the completion of a segment of the Danube Corridor from the exit of the Belgrade-Niš highway to Požarevac is anticipated. This road is intended to connect Veliko Gradište and Golubac after Požarevac, and the project is being carried out by the subsidiary company Shandong Hi-Speed Group.
Energy Sector: Awaiting Strategic Partners
When it comes to infrastructure projects in the field of energy, it seems that for now, we can only speculate about which ones might materialize. However, what is certain is that all of these projects are extremely costly.
For instance, the Ministry of Mining and Energy has sent a clear message that the construction project of the reversible hydroelectric power plant Bistrica is high on the priority list. Nevertheless, as of yet, neither the secured financing nor the potential strategic partner has been disclosed.
Potential partners in the project have been considered as Japanese experts, and in relation to this, Minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović visited Tokyo. It is estimated that the construction of Bistrica would cost at least 900 million euros.
“We expect to see a tender announced relatively soon for the construction of the reversible hydroelectric power plant Bistrica, while the Preliminary Feasibility Study for the construction of the reversible hydroelectric power plant Đerdap 3 is underway. it becomes clearer that Serbia has made a difference in many respects compared to many countries in the region, as well as EU member states,” Minister Đedović stated in a December authored text for NIN.
The construction of Đerdap 3 is estimated at 1.4 billion euros, which is also the value of the project for the construction of self-balancing solar hydroelectric power plants. For these projects, Hyundai Engineering Co. LTD, Hyundai Eng. America Inc., and UGT Renewables LLC have been selected as strategic partners for EPS.
During 2024, the plan involves arranging planning documentation, obtaining location and energy permits, and starting to resolve property and legal issues. It is not known whether the estimated 1.4 billion euros required for the project have been secured in the meantime.
One potential development in 2024 could be the selection of a strategic partner for another project worth 1.4 billion euros, which involves the construction of a wind farm with a total installed capacity of one gigawatt.
The plan is for the strategic partner to deliver the wind farm to EPS by 2030 under a “turnkey” system.
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