Romania is assessing the Đerdap 3 pumped storage hydropower plant project, which is being implemented by Serbia, according to the Romanian government.
Ten days ago, the US Embassy in Serbia revealed that the Government of Serbia had issued a public call to companies from the United States to express interest in participating in the implementation of the Đerdap 3 project.
Responding to a query from Romanian portal Economica, the government in Bucharest has said it is currently conducting an inter-ministerial evaluation of the Đerdap 3 project.
The two countries currently share two hydropower plants on the Danube
The process covers the economic impact and the impact on Romania’s energy system, but also the environmental aspects of the project, according to the response.
In principle, Romania is fully open to this project, the government added.
The Romanian government referred to it as the Porțile de Fier 3 project, or Iron Gates 3.
Of note, Đerdap 3 would be located in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, upstream of the Đerdap 1 hydropower plant, operated by state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS). The river forms the natural border between Serbia and Romania.
The two countries currently share two hydropower plants on the Danube – Đerdap 1 (2,300 MW), and Đerdap 2 (520 MW). The hydropower plants are called Porțile de Fier 1 and Porțile de Fier 2 in Romanian, and Iron Gate 1 and Iron Gate 2 in English.
Hidroelectrica might be a partner in the project
According to unofficial sources cited by Economica, Romania will consider its involvement in the project once Serbia sends all necessary information.
The same sources added that Hidroelectrica, Romania’s state-owned power producer, could participate in the project with a 50% stake.
Romania and Serbia discussed the project back in 2022. A year later, Romania’s energy minister, Sebastian Burduja, said the country would closely follow developments around Đerdap 3 and would not allow the project to jeopardize production at the existing Đerdap 1 and 2 complex.
