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Joint statement on utilization of hydro-potential of the mid part of the Drina River signed by the Ministers of Italy, Serbia and Republika Srpska in Belgrade

Date: April 27^th 2010 Author: Dragan Obradović, Belgrade Category: Articles
Topic: Electricity , RES and EE , Energy policy

Preliminary agreement on construction of hydropower plants on the Ibar River signed as well

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Yesterday, on 26 April 2010 in Belgrade, the Italian Minister of Economic development Claudio Scajola, the Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Petar Skundric and the Minister of Economy, Energy and Development of Republika Srpska Slobodan Puhalac signed a joint statement on utilization of hydro-potential of the mid stream of the Drina River.

In addition to this statement the Ministers Skundric and Puhalac also signed an agreement that establishes mutual rights and obligations between Serbia and Republika Srpska regarding the construction of the new electric power facilities in the mid stream of the river Drina.

Preliminary agreement on construction of hydropower plants on Ibar and Sava was signed by the Director of Elektroprivreda Serbia (EPS) Dragomir Markovic and by the President of the company Seci Energie Gaetano Makaferi.

Skundric said that the total value of these projects is about one billion euros and added that by “signing this agreement today, the conditions have been established for all three countries to begin study analyses and payability assessment for the hydro potential of mid Drina on three locations - Rogacica, Dubravica in Tegare”. He also said that after that the implementation principles for these projects will be determined.

The envisaged installed power of the hydro centrals on Drina will be 380 to 400 MW which means that the annual electricity production could be about 1.5 billion kWh, said Skundric.

Minister Skundric also highlighted that by signing the agreement between EPS and the Italian company Seci Energie, the conditions have been established for creation of a joint company for construction of the hydropower plants on Ibar. He said that the company will be established within the next two months; the Italian company will own 51 percent of the joint venture and EPS 49 percent.

Skundric emphasized that Serbia and Republika Srpska will be permanent owners or co-owners of these facilities and that the countries are committed to reach encouraging measures of the Italian government to produce “clean energy”.

The Italian Minister Scajola said that the signature of these documents enables the realization of the project to begin. Drina will thus represent an important source of hydro energy for Serbia, Republika Srpska and Italy. The projects will connect Serbia with Italy via Montenegro (with a submarine cable), creating a joint energy network.

Scajola also said that implementation of certain energy projects between Serbia and Italy is planned as well. The signature of these agreements will be taking place at the Energy Fair in Belgrade at the end of the year.

Puhalac said that energy industry is a good opportunity for Republika Srpska and its chance to keep the power over its natural resources. He mentioned that Republika Srpska only exploits about 30 percent of its hydro potential.

At the occasion of signature of both documents, the Italian Minister of Economic Development Claudio Scajola also had a meeting with the Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic on 26 April 2010. They assessed that the cooperation in providing additional Italian investments has to be strengthened and that it is necessary to strengthen cooperation in the energy field. The latter is confirmed by today’s signature of the joint statement between Serbia, Italy and Republika Srpska on realization of the joint energy projects.

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