Serbia’s Mining and Energy Ministry announced on Tuesday (31 October) that Serbian electric utility companies “Beogradska elektrana” and “Energotehnika Južna Bačka” have been awarded contracts for the renovation and modernisation of the Cerak heating plant system in Belgrade.
The project is now set to start, following the contract signing on Tuesday. The contracts worth 16.09 million euros were signed as part of a fifth phase of the district heating system rehabilitation programme, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Mining and Energy and German development bank KfW.
“Rehabilitation and modernisation of the Cerak heating plant will significantly increase the safety of the supply of thermal energy to consumers in Belgrade, improve the energy efficiency of the heating plant, and reduce the consumption of natural gas and carbon dioxide emissions,” said Maja Vukadinović, Serbia’s Deputy Minister of Mining and Energy for Energy Efficiency and Climate Change. “Also, after the completion of modernisation, we will create conditions for capacity expansion and connection of new facilities to the heating plant. Part of the works that do not affect the operation of the heating plant during the heating season will begin immediately after the signing of the contract, while the completion of all works is planned for October next year.”
In addition Belgrade, the district heating system rehabilitation programme encompasses projects in the municipalities of Bor, Jagodina, Leskovac, Negotin, Niš and Senta.
“In cooperation with partners from the Federal Republic of Germany, who recognized our need for significant investments in the district heating sector, we secured 32 million euros under favourable conditions for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the district heating system in seven cities and municipalities in Serbia. By doing so, we contribute to more efficient and stable heating, while the population and the environment in those places will benefit from the reduction of harmful gas emissions,” said Deputy Minister Vukadinović.
Four phases of the district heating system rehabilitation project in Serbia with a total value of 130 million euros have been implemented since 2001, with the rehabilitation and modernisation of the district heating system in 22 heating plants, the ministry said.