The development of the two hydropower units in Brodarevo in the southwestern part of Serbia, with 35.4 MW in total, was terminated in 2018. In the meantime, the government has revived it and the public discussion on the planned hydropower plants is scheduled for July 15 in Prijepolje.
The draft changes to the special purpose spatial plan for two hydropower plants was published for public consultation before a public debate set for mid-July together with the new strategic environmental assessment (SEA) report. REW Energy from Belgrade has hired ECOlogica Urbo, based in Kragujevac, for the SEA for Brodarevo 1 and 2, planned to be built in southwest Serbia. The combined capacity is 35.4 MW.
The documents will be available for suggestions until June 30 and a public meeting is scheduled for July 15 in Prijepolje. The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, which published them on its website, said REW covered the expenses of the new spatial plan for the controversial project.
Attempt to revive
Reservoir Capital, headquartered in Canada, abandoned the development of the two hydropower plants two and a half years ago, citing “risky” environment. Namely, a local court blocked the environmental permit, Montenegro protested over cross-border impact and local activists opposed the endeavor as well.
Reservoir, which operated through its Renewable Energy Ventures (REV), a firm registered in Belgrade, has worked on those hydropower project for ten years before terminating the attempt.
Three turbines each
Brodarevo 1 is planned with a capacity of 13.2 MW at a location called Kruševica in the municipalities of Prijepolje and Sjenica, the documents show. The dam is envisaged to reach a height of 37.8 meters and to be 56 meters long. Its top is supposed to be at 516 meters above sea level.
The facilities on the river Lim should have three turbines each and an average annual production of 45.9 MWh and 83.9 MWh.
Brodarevo 2 at Brusovnik in Prijepolje is seen with a dam of 37.2 times 71 meters, with the crown at 490.4 meters above sea level. The planned capacity is 22.2 MW.
Two protected areas in vicinity
The changes in the spatial plan concern 850.7 hectares, of which the Brodarevo 1 elaboration is for 26.8 hectares, compared to 53.9 hectares for Brodarevo 2. The projects are near protected areas of Kamena gora and Ozren-Jadovnik. The environmental study says any damage to nature would be compensated by renewal or replacement of affected parts.
The spatial plan is for the period until 2030, with elements for implementation until 2025.
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