EPBiH preparing to build another coal power plant – unit 8 in TPP Kakanj

In addition to the project for unit 7 at the Tuzla coal power plant, power utility Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) is also continuing preparations for the construction of unit 8 at thermal power plant Kakanj.

The difficulties in the implementation of the Tuzla 7 project obviously did not deter EPBiH from new investments in coal-fired power plants. The confirmation about the plan to build a 300 MW cogeneration unit has come from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

It said the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo annulled the issuance of the environmental permit for unit 8 in TPP Kakanj from July 2017.

Unit 8 is planned as a replacement for units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

The ministry has now decided to put the non-technical summary of the request for an environmental permit for the unit 8 project available to the public.

The deadline for suggestions was 15 days and it expires tomorrow.

Unit 8 in TPP Kakanj is a replacement for Units 1, 2, 3 and 4, which are already closed, as well as for unit 5, which will cease operations after the commissioning of unit 8.

The investment in unit 8 is estimated at EUR 500 million

TPP Kakanj has seven units, with a total installed capacity of 578 MW, while 450 MW is currently in operation. Four units were shut down in the late 1990s.

The main fuel for the new block will be brown coal from the mines in Kakanj, Breza and Zenica, the non-technical summary reads.

The expected annual production of unit 8 is 1,755 GWh, while the investment is estimated at EUR 500 million, with another EUR 100 million for coal mines.