Power utility ERS hires advisers for urgent review of production capacities

State-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) has hired two institutes from Serbia to prepare an urgent analysis of the state of its production capacities and propose measures to increase electricity output.

The urgent analysis of ERS’ production capacities was initiated by Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković and Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić at the end of December due to concerns that coal mines would not be able to secure enough coal for electricity production in thermal power plants, Capital.ba reported.

Of note, coal shortages are also causing problems to two other regional power utilities, Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH), and Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).

Following negotiations with bidders, ERS chose a consortium of the Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor and the Nikola Tesla Institute of Electrical Engineering.

Two institutes from Serbia were hired to prepare a study and proposals for improvements

The two institutes had offered the lowest price, of BAM 1.84 million (EUR 900,000), to prepare a study on the state of production capacities of ERS with proposals for improving electricity production.

ERS has requested an analysis of the situation in five of its subsidiaries – two for thermal power plants and mines (RiTE Ugljevik and RiTE Gacko) and three for hydropower plants (on the Trebišnjica, Vrbas and Drina rivers).

The two institutes are required to compare the projected and realized output of electricity and coal, and the technical and technological state of equipment and facilities. They are also to propose possible improvements.

ERS management has already asked subsidiary firms to look into the situation with coal production

Ivan Koprivica, technical director of ERS, said that on December 28, the company received an urgent request from the prime minister and the energy minister to examine the situation regarding the production of coal and electricity in RiTE Gacko and RiTE Ugljevik.

He said the prime minister and the minister wanted to review the operation of the power plants to determine whether the situation was critical, and, if necessary, take urgent measures to prevent power generation stoppages.

Koprivica said the management also sent letters to the ERS subsidiary RiTE Ugljevik to warn it about the problem with providing sufficient quantities of coal for the operation of the thermal power plants.