The Minister of Mining and Energy chaired a meeting of the Government Working Group for the implementation of the Bistrica reversible hydroelectric plant (RHPP) project, confirming that activities are progressing according to plan. According to the Ministry of Mining and Energy’s statement, the minister emphasized the importance of all relevant institutions adhering to the set deadlines for the upcoming steps in the project’s preparation.
The Bistrica RHPP project has been identified as a priority in all strategic documents, and the new hydroelectric plant will provide 656 megawatts of capacity, serving as a natural battery to balance the increasing energy production from solar and wind power plants. Based on the current timeline, preparatory works are expected to begin by the end of 2025 or at the latest, early 2026.
The minister also noted that, so far, the Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study have been completed, with the Environmental Impact Assessment study expected to be finalized by April next year.
In addition, the Serbian Government approved the Spatial Plan for the special purpose area in October, and work is ongoing on the technical documentation for the relocation of state roads, power lines, and part of the water supply in Priboj. Over the past month, a team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited Serbia for about a month, during which they toured the locations designated in the Spatial Plan for the construction of the new reversible hydroelectric plant, as well as the Bajina Bašta RHPP, to familiarize themselves with existing technologies in the country’s power system.
The minister stated that JICA’s next visit is scheduled for January, and the goal is to efficiently verify the existing planning and project documentation, as well as to complete the approval process for the project’s financing.
The statement added that representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Interior’s Sector for Emergency Situations, Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), Elektrodistribucija Srbije (EDS), Elektromreža Srbije (EMS), Putevi Srbije, the Republic Geodetic Institute (RGZ), as well as the municipalities of Priboj and Nova Varoš, also attended the meeting.
