Bechtel could finance study for Đerdap 3 pumped storage hydropower

Representatives of the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Serbia and US-based company Bechtel have discussed the construction of pumped storage hydropower plant Đerdap 3. According to the ministry, Bechtel is ready to provide funds for the prefeasibility study for the project.

Zorana Mihajlović, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy, Christopher Hill, United States Ambassador to Serbia, and Stuart Jones, Bechtel’s President for Regions and Corporate Relations, spoke at a meeting in Belgrade about the two countries’ joint projects.

Mihajović stated that she is proud of the cooperation with Bechtel from when she was minister of construction, transport and infrastructure.

There are great opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector as well, she added.

The installed capacity of Đerdap 3 could reach 2,400 MW

She highlighted renewable energy projects, such as the first hybrid pumped storage hydropower plant Đerdap 3, with a total installed capacity that could reach 2,400 MW, and an additional capacity of 400 MW in wind and solar facilities, she said.

According to Mihajlović, energy security is the most important topic for all countries in Europe at the moment, including Serbia. For Serbia it is also important to speed up the energy transition and become much more efficient in building new energy capacities, in her view.

Bechtel could finance prefeasibility study for the project

Stuart Jones, Bechel’s President for Regions and Corporate Relations, said the company would analyze the possibilities for cooperation with Serbia in the energy sector. He said it is looking at financing the prefeasibility study for the Đerdap 3 project.

Bechtel has already expressed its interest in the projects for the Đerdap 3 pumped storage hydropower plant and a big wind farm in Serbia.

Of note, Đerdap 3 is one of the projects from the country’s energy investment plan, valued at EUR 17 billion. It includes two pumped storage HPPs – Đerdap 3 and Bistrica.

Bechtel has won the contract two years ago for the construction of pumped storage hydropower plant Skavica in Albania.