ERS opens 8.76 MW hydropower plant Bočac 2 under EUR 21.5 million investment

Power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) yesterday unveiled the Bočac 2 hydropower plant (HPP) with an installed capacity of 8.76 MW and the expected annual output of 41.6 GWh of electricity. The project worth BAM 42 million (about EUR 21.5 million) is expected to break even within seven years.

Alongside HPP Bočac 2, which will create 32 jobs, a newly built small hydropower plant (SHPP) with an installed capacity of 586 kW close to HPP Bočac 1 was also unveiled. The SHPP will serve for the self-consumption of Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu, a subsidiary of ERS.

Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu, the direct investor in the project, states on its website that HPP Bočac 2 has no adverse impact on the environment, while it uses a clean and renewable energy source.

Foto: Integral Inženjering

Laktaši-based Integral Inženjering carried out the construction works, while Banja Luka-based Elnos BL delivered equipment. The design, consultancy services, and supervision were provided by Belgrade, Serbia-based Jaroslav Černi institute for the development of water resources.

Hidroelektrane na Vrbasu General Manager Nedeljko Kesić said at the unveiling ceremony that the feasibility study projects annual revenues from the new HPP’s electricity sales at BAM 5.5 million (around EUR 2.81 million), local media reported.

HPP Bočac 2 is located 7 km downstream from HPP Bočac 1, which was built 37 years earlier.

The unveiling ceremony, held at the peak of election campaigning, was attended by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, as well as Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mining Petar Đokić, who recalled that Republika Srpska has opened three energy facilities over the past few years – HPP Mesići-Nova, HPP Bogatići Nova, and HPP Bočac 2.

HPP Bogatići Nova on the Željeznica river near Sarajevo was put into operation exactly a month ago. The 9.96 MW HPP soaked an investment of BAM 18.5 million (around EUR 9.45 million). HPP Bogatići Nova should produce an average 46.26 million kWh of electricity annually.

HPP Bogatići Nova is expected to have annual revenues of BAM 5 million (about EUR 2.55 million).

The Mesići-Nova small hydropower plant (SHPP) near Rogatica, with an installed capacity of 5 MW, broke even on the BAM 10 million (EUR 5 million) investment after three and a half years of operation, Ljubomir Mrda, director of ERS subsidiary Elektrodistribucija Pale, said recently.