Republika Srpska, Serbia to discuss joint construction of HPPs Paunci, Foča – minister

The governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia will discuss the joint construction of the Paunci and Foča hydropower plants on the upper Drina river at their next session, Petar Đokić, the Bosnian Serb entity’s energy minister, has told MPs.

Đokić said that he hopes by the time the session is held, a negotiating procedure will be carried out and a concession for the construction of the Paunci and Foča hydropower plants (HPP) awarded to the entity’s power utility, Elekroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS).

This will be done so that ERS can have an adequate relationship with Serbia’s power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) on the project, according to Đokić.

The session should be held in late August in Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srna reported, according to local media.

According to earlier reports, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić discussed the project at the Jahorina Economic Forum in early May.

According to ERS’ website, HPP Foča would have an installed capacity of 44.15 MW and an average annual production of 175.9 GWh of electricity, while HPP Paunci would have an installed capacity of 43.21 MW and an average annual output of 166.9 GWh of electricity.

Small HPP on Drinjača river launches test operation

Meanwhile, a small hydropower plant (HPP) on the Drinjača river has started a trial run, Vitomir Tomić, one of the investors, has confirmed.

The 1 MW HPP’s construction has soaked an investment of around BAM 6.5 million (EUR 3.33 million).

The plant should produce 6.5 million kWh of electricity annually, Tomić said, noting that he expects the HPP to get a certificate by July 1 and officially launch production during the summer.