New block 3 of thermal power plant in Kostolac to bring seven percent more electricity – Government approves acquisition to EPS

The Block 3 in Kostolac has been in test operations since spring, and the Government of Serbia, as RTS reports, approved to EPS two days ago to take it over from the Chinese CMEK. The construction of Block 3 cost more than USD 600 million and it is the first new production facility in EPS after 35 years.

Annually, the new block in Kostolac will produce up to two and a half terawatts of electrical energy, which is around 7% of EPS’s production of electricity.

Before the management was taken over from the Chinese contractor, extensive documentation was prepared.

The project manager of EPS, Zeljko Lazovic, says that there are 1,000 to 1,050 folders, which, if they were stacked inside a 120-m2 apartment, would fill it up to the ceiling.

He also explains that they have obtained all the necessary equipment and that the equipment is in line with the European standard and of the European quality, although the contractor is from China.

Guarantee in case of malfunction

EPS’s new facility also has a one-year guarantee which obligates the Chinese investor to react in the case of any kind of malfunction or irregularity.

Those in charge say that the new thermal power plant is fully ecological, and the values of the harmful emissions are lower than proscribed by law.

– The new block is a highly efficient block compared to our existing blocks, with all environmental protection measures, among other things, desulfuring, particle DeNOx and the transport of ash and slag – pointed out the CEO of EPS, Dusan Zivkovic.

The minister of mining and energy of Serbia, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, emphasized that the benefit would be felt during the winter, as well as in the coming decades.

– The government’s aim is also to get as many new production capacities as fast as possible, because every megawatt means a lot to us because of the increasing production in the coming years – the minister said.

The role of the new Block 3 in Kostolac is especially important considering that EPS has commenced the process of the shutting down of two obsolete thermal power plants.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Elektroprivreda Srbije ad Beograd

Government of Serbia

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Elektroprivreda Srbije

Thermal Power Plant Kostolac

CMEK

Željko Lazović

Dubravka Đedović Handanović

new EPS facility

electricity production

power generation

new thermal power plant