Serbia to sell Jaroslav Černi Water Institute

The Ministry of Economy has invited bids for the sale of the Jaroslav Černi Water Institute. It is the leading scientific research organization in the water sector in Serbia.

The Government of Serbia has decided to sell its 92% stake in the Jaroslav Černi Water Institute. It estimated its total value at EUR 2.8 million, and the starting price for the government’s shares is set at EUR 2.58 million. Bids can be submitted by November 5, the ministry said.

The state is selling its 92 percent stake

The ministry issued a public call in May for potential buyers to send letters of interest. Dejan Divac, director of the institute, said in March that Serbia-based Millennium Team was interested in buying it.

Jaroslav Černi is the leading scientific research organization in the water sector in Serbia

According to the institute’s website, Jaroslav Černi is the leading scientific research organization in the water sector in Serbia and one of the most reputable organizations in the region.

The institute was involved in almost all the most important hydrotechnical facilities and systems in the water sector in the country, and it is participating in similar projects that are now in the implementation phase or in pipeline.

Jaroslav Černi is unavoidable when it comes to projects concerning water

Its experts designed, among other things, dams Prvonek, Vrutci, Gruža and Grlište, the Rzav regional water supply system, water supply springs for Belgrade, Novi Sad, Požarevac, Niš, drinking water treatment plants in more than ten cities in Serbia, a wastewater treatment plant in Nikšić in Montenegro, hydropower plant Bočac 2 on the Vrbas river in BiH, irrigation systems…

The institute participates in projects such as hydropower plants Dabar and Buk Bijela in BiH, a system of ten HPPs on the Ibar river in Serbia, Komarnica HPP in Montenegro, wastewater treatment plants for Vranje and Leskovac…

Privatization will put expertise in the function of private profit

Water protection initiative Pravo na vodu (Right to Water) has called on the expert and academic communities to voice opposition to the intention of the Government of Serbia to privatize the Jaroslav Černi Water Institute. The importance and significance of the autonomy of the institute is enormous so the sale will violate the public interest, natural resources and sustainable development of Serbia.