Proper Transition Measure Necessary

3/22/2023
Miroslav Tomašević, PE EPS’ Acting Director, at Trebinje Energy Summit

Energy transition is inevitable and Electric Power Industry of Serbia is planning to support it by investing 8.5 billion euros until 2035, says Miroslav Tomašević, PE EPS’ Acting Director, at Trebinje Energy Summit. Speaking at the plenary session, the head of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia emphasized that the right measure for the energy transition must be found.
- Each country is different, and shortcuts that would jeopardize energy stability must not be taken. EPS is a state-owned company and we are primarily focused on supplying electricity to our economy and households. We are entering a green transition and have planned large investments of 8.5 billion euros by 2035. Also, by 2035, EPS plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 to even 30 percent compared to 2019 emissions. We will achieve this by decommissioning the old and introducing new production capacities, such as pumped-storage hydro power plant Bistrica - says Tomašević.
Tomasević pointed out that EPS has support and excellent cooperation with the Western Balkans Investment Framework, from which it received grants of almost 50 million euros for renewable energy projects. He announced that EPS would replace old coal-fired plants with the new ones, and that a new 350 MW lignite unit compliant with all European standards would start operating in September or October. Balancing and introducing new RES capacities, wind farms and solar power plants into the energy system is also an important topic, and everyone in the region must be attentive.
- Republika Srpska is open to new energy projects and is ready to support investors. In these unstable times, it is important that we help each other - says Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska at the Summit opening.
Radovan Višković, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska says that he sees a great development opportunity in the energy sector, with more than 2,700 megawatts planned for new energy capacities, primarily from "clean" renewable sources.
Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska, points out that Republika Srpska is aware of its obligations and follows European directives imposing new models of behaviour, but he asked what were the countries of the Western Balkans supposed to do now that the thermal capacities in the EU were being activated.
- We will have to negotiate with the European institutions. We must not put citizens in a position of energy poverty by introducing taxes, and with our energy policy. We are ready to say that we will introduce taxes, but they must not be even close to the level of the European ones - points out Đokić.
According to the data presented by Dragan Šagovnović from the Economic Institute, the countries of the Western Balkans participated in the total emissions of greenhouse gases with less than one parts per thousand, while Serbia pollutes two times less than the EU countries per capita.

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