The rehabilitation of the Bajina Bašta Pumped-Storage Hydro Power Plant has been completed, and Unit 2 has been connected to the grid and contributes to Serbia's energy security, said Minister for Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović today after visiting the power plant.
- I am proud that for the first time since 1982, when it was put into operation, we have refurbished our only pumped-storage hydro power plant, which is the golden reserve of our electric power industry. With this rehabilitation, we have extended the service life of the units and provided their greater reliability and efficiency - said the Minister.
Đedović Handanović pointed out that this is one of the most important projects of Elektroprivreda Srbije, worth about 35 million euros, which included extensive works on the modernization of units, electrical equipment and control systems, as well as a major overhaul of the headrace-tailrace tunnel about eight kilometers long.
- The importance of the only pumped-storage power plant in Serbia is not only reflected in the generation of electricity, but primarily in its role in ensuring the stability and balancing of the power system. It is a kind of an "energy battery" of Serbia, as it enables coverage of peak consumption and a quick response in case of sudden disruptions in production or a sudden increase in electricity consumption. At the time of development of renewable energy sources which production is variable, the importance of the PSHPP Bajina Bašta is invaluable", said Đedović Handanović.
Dušan Živković, General Manager of EPS, pointed out that the previous 43 years of operation of the PSHPP Bajina Bašta proved the justification of the construction.
- The rehabilitation of the PSHPP Bajina Bašta was postponed for too long and there was no more room to wait. In the last two years, extensive works were done on the modernization of both units, electrical equipment and control system, as well as a major overhaul of the headrace-tailrace tunnel about eight kilometers long. The first rehabilitated unit has already presented the success of the work done in practice, and we expect the same from the second unit. Thanks to everyone who participated in this project, first of all to the employees of the power plant, but also to the partners from Toshiba, Goša Montaža, Elektromontaža, Elektroremont, as well as experts from the Mihailo Pupin Institute and the Nikola Tesla Institute - said Živković.
