Process of final closing of two thermal power plants in Serbia to start – EPS looking for company to prepare plans for conservation and future purpose of locations

Elektroprivreda Srbije has opened the tender for the preparation of the preliminary design for the purposes of conservation, the preparation and filing of the request on the necessity of an environmental impact assessment for the closing of the thermal power plants Kolubara and Morava, and the value is estimated at RSD 38 million.

The technical documentation says that, in the past few years, an increasing number of thermal power plants, especially those using solid fossil fuels, are gradually being put out of use due to their negative environmental impact.

Fossil fuel-based thermal power plants in Europe are either being closed down or kept in cold reserve, so that they can be activated only in cases of major disturbances in electricity supply. In Serbia, power facilities such as the TPP Kolubara and the TPP Morava are getting closer to the end of their life cycles, which poses the question of their future status and use.

The TPP Kolubara and the TPP Morava are faced with restrictions in line with the Large Combustion Plant Directive of the European Union, which sets the ecological standards for the reduction of emissions. According to the National Emission Reduction Plan (NERP), the blocks of these thermal power plants which don’t meet those requirements were allowed to work only with a limitation of 20,000 work hours in the period between 2018 and 2024. As the majority of the blocks have reached the end of this period without harmonizing their emissions with the ecological regulations, they are planned to be shut down.

Conservation and future use plan

The closing of these thermal power plants, according to the documentation, requires careful planning so as to minimize the negative impact on the local economy, environment and taxpayers. One of the key elements of planning is the conservation of the facilities, which will enable the preservation of the vital components of the thermal power plants for future use. This process includes the long-term maintenance and protection of critical components such as boilers, turbines and cooling systems, so that the facilities would be ready to work again if needed.

At the same time, an important aspect of the closing down of the power plants is the defining of a potential new use of the locations on which the TPP Kolubara and the TPP Morava are located. An analysis of the potentials for the utilization of these locations for other purposes, including the possibility of some parts of the equipment remaining operational as a strategic reserve of the electrical energy system of Serbia, is planned.

TPP Kolubara: Oldest thermal power plant in Serbia

The TPP Kolubara, located near the Open-Pit Mines Veliki Crljeni, has a capacity of 271 MW and is the oldest energy facility within the EPS system. With five blocks of various capacities, it used to be the biggest production facility in the country. However, some blocks have been out of function for a long time now, and the others are planned for conservation. The TPP Kolubara location might have new roles, but it is important to preserve the possibility if its reactivation in case of an electrical energy supply crisis.

TPP Morava: Location in Svilajnac and its potential

The TPP Morava in Svilajnac, with a block of 125 MW, is also planned to be put out of use. As in the case of the TPP Kolubara, the conservation process will enable the preservation of the vital components for potential future use. In addition to that, the possibility of using this location for various economically sustainable purposes, which could include both the local economy and the needs of the populace, is being considered.

Importance of conservation for future of energy sector

The conservation of these thermal power plants has not just technical, but also strategic and economic, implications. The conservation project has to ensure that the TPP Kolubara and the TPP Morava are ready for potential reuse if needed. Furthermore, the possibility of using the locations for other purposes, which can include an economically sustainable usage of a part of the existing equipment for the purposes not related to power generation.

The deadline for application for the tender is November 13, and more details (in Serbian) can be found HERE.

I. Z.

Elektroprivreda Srbije ad Beograd

Elektroprivreda Srbije

TPP Kolubara

TPP Morava

preparation of the preliminary design for the purposes of conservation

preparation and filing of the request on the necessity of an environmental impact assessment for the closing of the thermal power plants Kolubara and Morava

closing of thermal power plants

National Emission Reduction Plan

NERP