The energy sector is at a
turning point, so energy companies and their owners face a number of
questions and responsibilities regarding the future of energy security,
decarbonization and sustainable development, said Dušan Živković, General Manager of
the Electric Power Industry of Serbia at the Energy Symposium "EPCG NET
2025".
– This is the time of profound
changes, imposed by both the energy crisis and global political and market
circumstances.Today,
we have about 6,000 megawatts of installed coal-fired capacity in the region,
which we will have to replace in the near future. This is an extremely great
technical and financial challenge, but also an opportunity to define a new
model of development – Živković pointed out.
At the panel
"Implementation of the CBAM mechanism and the EU ETS Emissions Trading
System", he emphasized that the region has never been more determined to
implement the energy transition, but that it is clear that Southeast Europe is
not ready for the implementation of the Cross-Border Carbon Adjustment
Mechanism and that the most severe consequences of its introduction would be
suffered by energy-intensive industries.
– If the domestic industry
cannot withstand the energy price burdened by the CBAM, its competitiveness in
the European market will be seriously threatened. A lot of companies are asking
the question – Whether
different electricity prices are needed for certain sectors, in order to
preserve their sustainability and business – he said.
Živković reminded that ENTSO-E
(European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity) has
recently proposed to the European Commission to postpone the implementation of
the CBAM until 1 January 2027, and once again analyze the possibility of
exempting transmission system operators.
- I would say that the Energy Community, realizing that the
CBAM mechanism as a tax does not create conditions for the sustainability of
the region and the development of RES, recognizes the need to look for another
way," he said.
The head of EPS concluded
that it is necessary for each energy company to define its own path of
development, but with the obligation to preserve financial stability,
sustainability and social justice.
– Without clear support of the
owner and the government, the energy transition cannot be successful, because
if we are expected to guarantee energy security, it is up to the owner to
provide the conditions for energy companies to truly be able to guarantee it –
said Živković.
