“Glodar 10" bucket wheel excavator, weighing 1,600 tons, crossed the Beograd – Bar railway and it continues its path to the new Radljevo mine. The transport of the mining equipment from D Field to the Radljevo mine is the most complex and the longest transport of production equipment in the history of Kolubara mining basin and Electric Power Industry of Serbia.
As stipulated by Mr. Milorad Grčić, acting director of Electric Power Industry of Serbia, the excavator is to continue its way over the Ibar Highway, across Kolubara River and underneath numerous overhead lines. “Glodar 10" and the accompanying mobile transfer conveyor shall reach 24 kilometer distant Radljevo field at the latest at the beginning of November, where overburden removal is to be initiated.
This is an important day for Kolubara and EPS, since the transport is one of the final steps for Radljevo mine, which has been pondered about for over 40 years – said Mr. Grčić. – Such important days, of which there are many in EPS, prove that the Republic of Serbia has the intention of preserving, stabilizing and advancing the power system of Serbia.
Mr. Grčić reminded that during the previous years there had been significant investments in Kolubara MB and announced the continuation of investments.
The phase we are witnessing today is one of the last steps for opening the new Radljevo mine, which was designed in 1976, but unfortunately more than 4 decades needed to elapse to create the political and financial conditions for the realization of it. This job was waiting for us – Mr. Grčić explained. – It is very significant that “Glodar 10" can remove overburden but also excavate coal.
Minister of Mining and Energy Mr. Aleksandar Antić emphasized that it was a particularly significant day for the future of EPS, as well as the stability of the complete electric power system, since Kolubara region with its production had an essential impact on the energy stability.
We all together, in the synergy between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and EPS and other energy companies, do our best to keep our energy system flexible, stable and to see that it is developed so that it can secure long-term and stable supply in the future for all energy resources, which shall ensure the progress of Serbia – said Mr. Antić.
Mr. Antić mentioned that EPS achieved good results in generation and expressed thanks mostly to the miners of Kolubara and Drmno, who ensured that the thermal sector operated well, and he added that the coal production in EPS from the beginning of the year was 6 percent higher comparing to 2018.
We have an important step ahead of us leading to a great goal, which is that the production starts in Radljevo by the end of this year, that overburden removal starts and that coal production in Radljevo starts in 2023 as planned – said Mr. Antić. – Radljevo has a serious potential with 450 million tons of balance reserves and annual production of seven million tons. This field should secure the necessary and possibly additional amounts for the thermal power plants in Obrenovac and enable us to begin the project of new thermal power plant, i.e. the new unit in Kalenić, for which we have the full support of the president of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Vučić.
Antić wished success to everyone present “hoping that by the end of the year the contract for two large ECS systems shall be finalized, one for E Field and the other for Radljevo, having the total value of EUR 200 million", which would, he added, be the largest EPS mining investment after a long period of time
