Minister Antić inaugurated new pellet factory in Petrovac na Mlavi

Company Eko Step Pellet opened a plant for beech pellet production in the municipality Petrovac in eastern Serbia. Eko Step Pellet invested EUR 3 million and created 32 new jobs.

The funds were invested in the takeover of the bankrupt company and in the restoration of the production, Eko Step Pellet said in a statement. Commercial court declared bankruptcy of company Eco Wood in 2015.

“We managed to produce a quality product, 100% beech pellets. It is produced from the beech that grows in this part of Serbia, known to be the very best. Production capacity of the factory is 40,000 tonnes, but we are capable to expand it”, director of factory Svetlana Božinović said.

Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antić recalled how significant are projects that directly support the concept of environmental protection and the principles of sustainable energy.

“Serbia must recognize and exploit its potentials. Our potentials are renewable energy and biomass”, stressed Antić.

.@AAnticBG otvorio fabriku peleta u Petrovcu na Mlavi: Podstičemo proizvodnju energije iz biomase, veće korišćenje OIE u sektoru toplote 🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/ChGEgScrCp

— mre (@MiningEnergyRS) November 4, 2017

Repeating that Serbia has ambitious goal, to achieve a 27% share of RES in the final consumption until 2020, Antić said that Serbia is on the right track. There are still many sectors that could make progress. “We are taking great steps to convert heating plants across Serbia to biomass, to promote pellets as a great energy source, and to invite consumers who are not connected to the fossil fuel fired district heating plants to switch to pellets,” minister said.

Among the measures encouraging the use of pellets, the Government has cut VAT from 20% to 10%, which increased consumption by 25%.

“The goal is to raise production and consumption from the current 250,000 tonnes to 500,000. This will reduce the consumption of coal by 35% in individual households,” Antić said.