Republika Srpska, Russia’s Rakurs-Engineering sign agreement on project for construction of HPPs on Vrbas river

Republika Srpska Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Petar Đokić and General Manager of St. Petersburg-based Rakurs-Engineering Leonid Chernigov signed in Banja Luka a cooperation agreement concerning a EUR 500 million project for the construction of 4 cascading hydropower plants (HPPs) on the Vrbas river.

The project comprises HPPs Trn, Laktaši, Kosjerevo and Razboj. HPP Trn’s installed capacity would be 24.01 MW, with an average annual output of 139.90 GWh. HPP Laktaši’s installed capacity would be 16.18 MW, with an average annual production of 95.2 GWh. The planned installed capacity of HPP Kosjerevo would be 13.3 MW, with an the average annual output 102 GWh. HE Razboj’s installed capacity would be 16.50 MW, with an average annual production 102.1 GWh.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 workers would be engaged during construction of these power plants, said Đokić.

He said that the project would regulate the Vrbas river flow in Lijevče Polje to the confluence with the Sava River.

“The protection of land will be secured, the possibilities for farming will be improved, the quality and fertility of the land will be raised, and irrigation will be much better,” Đokić said.

Chernigov said that he is familiar with the hydropower potential of the Vrbas river, and that the main goal of the signed agreement is to explore the possibilities for the construction of HPPs in the Republika Srpska.

“We are interested in the implementation of this project,” said Chernigov.

He said that his company is ready to do all the necessary evaluations and to consider the possibility of finding investors for the project.

Part of the agreement also applies to innovation technologies, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of HPPs, as well as improving their operational readiness, said Chernigov, adding that St. Peterburg is ready to assist in the training of engineers from Republika Srpska.

The signing of the agreement was attended by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko.

Three HPPs already operating on Vrbas river

Three HPPs are currently operating now on the Vrbas river: HPP Jajce 1 (60 MW), HPP Jajce 2 (30 MW) and HPP Bočac (110 MW). The construction of an 8.76 MW small hydroelectric power plant (SHPP) Bočac 2 is under way.

HPPs Jajce 1 and Jajce 2 are managed by Elektroprivreda Hrvatske zajednice Herceg Bosne (EPHZHB), which operates in the Federation of BiH, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

HPP Bočac, managed by Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS), is in Republika Srpska, the other BiH entity.