EAR to donate 7.5m EUR for construction of long-distance power line Niš-Leskovac - contract signed in Belgrade

The CEO of Elektromreža Srbije (EMS), Miloš Milanković, and the Head of European Agency for Rehabilitation (EAR) in Belgrade, Daniel Giuglaris, signed the contract today (April 7, 2008), in the presence of Minister of Energy, Aleksandar Popović, on donation of 7.5m EUR for construction of long-distance power line from Niš to Leskovac.

That long-distance power line of 400 kV, 40.5 km long, represents the first phase of interconnection long-distance power line to Macedonian border, of which total length will be 140.5 km. The value of the whole investment is 31m EUR, 21m EUR of which will be donated by European Union.

"EMS" will also participate in financing from its own funds and, according to the project elaborated by "Elem-Elga" from Belgrade, the works will be carried out by the consortium of "Energoprojekt-oprema", "ABS Minel elektrogradnja-DV" and "Energomontaža".

Deadline for completion of construction is January 2009.

Giuglaris said that the preparations for tender for construction of the second part of long-distance power line from Leskovac to Macedonian border were in progress and he pointed out that it was the project of special importance to Macedonia and Greece and supply of electricity to the whole region.

He reminded that EAR had invested 450m EUR in Serbia's energy system since 2001.