ERS starts electricity imports over drought, TPP Gacko overhaul, accident at HPP Plat

Due to low water levels, the overhaul of thermal power plant (TPP) Gacko, which will be finished in 90 days, and decreased production by hydropower plants (HPPs) operated by Hidroelektrane na Trebišnjici (HET), caused by an accident at HPP Plat (HPP Dubrovnik), power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) has launched the import of electricity. Imported electricity will be used to secure supplies for domestic consumers, the Brčko District, and transmission system operator Nezavisni operator sistema BiH.

According to ERS, the import value is estimated at BAM 5 million (EUR 2.6 million) over the coming period.

For now, the import will take place on a weekly basis, with ERS carefully monitoring electricity prices on the free market, the current levels being around EUR 40-45 per MWh.

If the Drina and Vrbas rivers reach higher water levels over the coming period, it is expected that the import will be significantly lower than planned, ERS said on its website.

ERS noticed the first signs of decreased electricity production at the beginning of January, when an accident at HPP Plat (HPP Dubrovnik) put a unit which was supplying electricity to ERS offline.

Due to drought, the accident at HPP Plat, and TPP Gacko’s overhaul, ERS’ revenue this year to fall by EUR 12.8 million

The loss was partially offset by an agreement signed between ERS, HET and power utility Elektroprivreda Hrvatske zajednice Herceg Bosne (EPHZHB) on the equal distribution of electricity produced by the pumped-storage HPP PHE Čapljina.

The agreement includes an obligation for HET to secure regulated water release at the Gorica dam of its HPP Trebinje 2, while EPHZHB has agreed to ensure the production of electricity at HPP Čapljina.

The consequences of drought and the accident at HPP Plat, as well as the negative financial effects of the TPP Gacko overhaul, will lower ERS’ revenues by BAM 25 million (EUR 12.8 million) this year, the ERS said.

In order to reduce the negative financial implications, ERS has recommended cost efficiency measures to all subsidiaries. These recommendations have been applied since the first decade of March, and the first results should be known in the middle of the year.