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Decarbonisation
is not merely a simple substitution of one resource with another; it is a
process that must contribute to enhancing Serbia’s energy security, stated
Dušan Živković, CEO of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).
“Energy
uncertainty will persist for quite some time, and it is clear that we must
raise the level of the country’s energy security and independence. Today, EPS
must simultaneously ensure three priorities: security of supply, financial
stability, and a sustainable energy transition. Our objectives are clear — to
maintain our position as the dominant producer and supplier of electricity,
which requires diversification of energy sources alongside strategic
investments in new generation capacities,” Živković emphasised at the EPCG NET
Energy Symposium.
He
noted that EPS has already expressed interest in acquiring developed renewable
energy projects currently available on the Serbian market.
“On
the one hand, we are burdened with additional costs of €100 million due to
greenhouse gas emissions, while on the other, CBAM prevents us from generating
profit from electricity sales in the EU. Therefore, our investment focus is on
developing strategic capacities, primarily the Bistrica pumped-storage
hydropower plant and large-scale solar projects,” Živković underlined.
He
also recalled that in recent years, more than 2,000 MW have been connected to
the grid in Serbia, including 426 MW of new capacity from EPS, while the
refurbishment of hydropower plants has added a further 100 MW.
Živković
also touched upon the fact that the world is consuming natural resources much
faster than they can be replenished. “As of 6 June 2026, we are effectively
living on ‘borrowed resources from planet Earth’, as by that date we had
already consumed all the resources the Earth can regenerate in a year. From an
electricity perspective, it is now crucial that we learn to live within our
existing resources without compromising our standard of living,” he concluded.
