Japan will support Serbia in their most important energy project
Discussions between Serbia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy and the head representative of the Balkan Office of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) regarding the funding and development of the Bistrica pumped storage power plant in Serbia have concluded.
JICA, a government institution of Japan, is dedicated to aiding economic and social development in developing nations and fostering global cooperation, following the Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria set by the OECD Development Assistance Committee. This involves technology transfer, knowledge sharing, training programs, expert exchanges, and equipment provision.
The Government of Japan, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has formally involved JICA in the power plant project. Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, stated that by year-end, technical documentation preparation will conclude to kickstart the project next year.
Construction designs and feasibility studies are finished, with ongoing efforts in drafting the spatial development plan, conducting environmental impact assessments, and studying cultural property protection in the project area.
The project worth EUR 1.2 billion is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s economic image
According to the latest projections, the Bistrica power plant, with a capacity of 628 MW, is estimated to cost around EUR 1.2 billion. This project is hailed as the most significant development in Serbia’s energy sector in three decades and is a key component of the Skok u budućnost – Srbija EXPO 2027 initiative. Belgrade secured the hosting rights for EXPO 2027, triumphing over contenders like the United States, Thailand, Spain, and Argentina.
The power plant will be situated below the existing Bistrica hydroelectric facility in the southwestern region of Serbia. The current plant, operational since 1960, forms part of the Drina-Lim branch of the state-owned energy company Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS). Concurrently, Serbia is advancing with the Đerdap 3 hydroelectric project.
Similar investments have been initiated in various Balkan countries in recent years, highlighting the growing significance of pumped storage systems in Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece.
Source: balkangreenenergynews.com