TENT to invest EUR 1 billion by 2017 - Obrenovac's steam power plant to implement most expensive environmental projects in Serbia

(Nikola Tesla Steam Power Plant)

Nikola Tesla Steam Power Plant (TENT), the largest producer of electricity in Serbia, plans to invest EUR 1.1 billion in plant modernization and environmental projects over the next five years.

One of the most significant projects is the installation of the first flue gas desulphurization system in Serbia, worth EUR 250 million, which is also the most expensive environmental project of the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS) ever. The Japanese government has approved a loan to TENT for that "green" investment, and desulphurization will also be done in four units of TENT A.

- Funds have been provided from some sort of a loan, given that it is not a commercial loan, but a loan with a long grace period and low interest rates. In cooperation with the appointed advisor - Japan's TEPSCO, EPS and TENT are preparing a tender. All interested companies, and not only those from Japan, will be able to participate in that tender. The plan is to finish the whole desulphurization project by 2016 – Petar Knezevic, director of Nikola Tesla Steam Power Plant, says in a talk with eKapija.

Aside from being significant for our country, the flue gas desulphurization system is also important for our neighbors.

(Petar Knezevic)

- When we are talking about percentage, there is not much sulfur in our fuel. However, when we take into account the quantity, given that the steam power plant burns between 28 and 30 million tonnes of lignite per year, sulfur dioxide emissions are quite significant. Aside from the reduction of emissions of solid particles and nitrogen oxides, it is also very important to eliminate sulfur oxides, which is the most expensive ecological procedure ever done by the Serbian energy sector. Certain funds will also be used for TENT B, where we expect similar activities to start very soon - says our interlocutor.

TENT will soon also modernize the ash removal system and replace the ash and slag disposal system in all six units of TENT A. The plan is to invest EUR 40 million in this system, and people at the steam power plant expect a tender to be launched soon.

Obrenovac-based Nikola Tesla B steam power plant will no longer pose a threat to rivers because the construction of a wastewater treatment plant is in the pipeline. A donation for the implementation of this project has been secured under an IPA agreement between Serbia and the European Union. As it was earlier announced, this investment is worth about EUR 15 million.

- This plant will allow for wastewater collecting and treatment, so that only clean water will be released into the Sava river. The plan is to build such plant within TENT B.

TENT ready for winter

When asked how they plan to increase the production by another 3.5 billion kWh per year by 2017, which is the amount of electricity that would otherwise be generated by a 400 MW power unit, our interlocutor replies:

- We have made that plan, and it is now necessary that competent authorities agree with our idea so we could provide funds for that project. The announced production growth will be achieved through the revitalization of power units and the extension of their life, as well as through energy efficiency improvement and capacity boost.

A coal quality and quantity control system, worth EUR 1.7 million, was put into operation in Nikola Tesla B steam power plant on October 1st, with the aim of cutting energy consumption.

- This system, which we designed in association with the company SGS, enables us to track the quality of coal in order to use the coal of the appropriate calorific value in accordance with the needs for electricity. According to estimates, this system will result in annual savings in the amount of EUR 7 million.

The director of TENT says that the plan is to introduce a similar system in Kolubara Mining Basin.

Knezevic says that almost all planned repairs are completed.

Suzana Obradovic