Bechtel interested in building new HPP, wind and solar parks in Serbia

(Illustration) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic spoke yesterday with Ailie McAdam, president of Bechtel's Mining & Metals global business unit, about cooperation in this sector, existing projects implemented by this company in Serbia and new investments in the energy field.

- The Green Agenda is a model of growth, and we will emerge from the energy transition stronger and more developed. We want to improve the mining sector, because there are numerous opportunities for new investments and new companies, such as Bechtel - which means a larger share of mining in the GDP, new jobs. I hope that we will continue the good cooperation, which we started at the time when I was leading the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure - said Mihajlovic, as per the announcement of the Ministry of Mining and Energy.

Speaking about the new mining projects, she said that the realization of all projects will be conditioned by the fulfillment of high standards of environmental protection.

- The Jadar project is strategically important not only for mining, but for the entire Serbian economy, and we believe that all conditions will be met in accordance with the highest standards of environmental protection and that we will have a jadarite or lithium mine. However, our goal is to have a complete lithium production chain, a lithium battery factory and an electric vehicle factory - the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

Mihajlovic pointed out that the new Law on the use of RES represents the basis for a new investment framework, and that there is room for cooperation with Bechtel on the construction projects of new HPPs, wind farms and solar power plants.

- We support the vision and goals you set in the process of energy transition and we are glad to have the opportunity to be part of that vision on green mining, green energy and sustainable economy. I hope that the company's experience and my personal experience will help in future projects, especially since we already have excellent experience when it comes to cooperation with you in the previous Ministry - said Ailie McAdam, president of Bechtel's Mining & Metals global business unit.

The meeting, at which the parties agreed that the talks on the cooperation between Bechtel and the Ministry should be intensified, was also attended by the US Ambassador to Serbia, Anthony Godfrey.

- There are several ways we can deepen the cooperation. One of the priorities of our Government is sustainable growth, green economy and the need to increase green energy production, which President Biden spoke about, and having in mind your vision and commitment to transforming the energy mix, i.e. the capacity growth of RES, there is much room for Serbia to become a more attractive place for new investments, not only from the USA, but also from the EU - Godfrey said.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ambasada SAD Beograd

BECHTEL LIMITED OGRANAK BEOGRAD

Bechtel

Anthony Godfrey

Joseph Biden

Zorana Mihajlovic

Ailie McAdam

renewable energy sources

investments

green energy