Hidroelectrica to have EUR 800 million budget for HPP upgrades by 2020
State-owned power utility Hidroelectrica will have EUR 800 million at its disposal by 2020 to modernize the hydropower plants (HPPs) it currently operates, according to Romania’s draft Energy Sector Strategy for the period 2018-2030 with projections until 2050, local media reported. The strategic document also envisages EUR 2.5 billion in investments for completing new hydropower […]
Hidroelectrica to forge cooperation with Verbund
State-owned Hidroelectrica plans to sign a cooperation agreement with Austria’s electricity producer Verbund, Romanian media reported. The approval of the cooperation agreement between the biggest power producer in Romania and the largest provider of electricity in Austria is on the agenda of the next General Shareholders Meeting planned to take place in October, Romania’s portal […]
Two more weeks left for comments on EU-backed principles, list of sustainable hydropower projects in Western Balkans
The extended deadline to provide comments on the draft Principles for Sustainable Hydropower in the Western Balkans and on the draft Indicative List of Projects associated with the Regional Strategy for Sustainable Hydropower in the Western Balkans, an EU-funded study, expires on August 31. The draft list contains the existing and potential greenfield hydropower projects that may receive financial […]
Albanian court upholds annulment of HPP projects
The first-instance Administrative Court in Tirana has upheld the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy’s decision to scrap HP Bigas dhe Veleshnje Energy’s projects to build two HPPs in Albania’s grand Osumi Canyon, a major tourist and rafting attraction. The Albanian investor had contested the ministry’s decision to partially annul a contract on the investment before […]
Republika Srpska, Serbia to discuss joint construction of HPPs Paunci, Foča – minister
The governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia will discuss the joint construction of the Paunci and Foča hydropower plants on the upper Drina river at their next session, Petar Đokić, the Bosnian Serb entity’s energy minister, has told MPs. Đokić said that he hopes by the time the session is held, a negotiating procedure will […]
Albania gets fresh EUR 12 million loan for strategic Dam Safety Project
Albania has drawn an additional EUR 12 million in lending for its Dam Safety Project to safeguard hydroelectric dams and extend the operating life of hydropower plants on two rivers, including the Drin Cascade, which accounts for the bulk of the country’s electricity generation. The three hydropower plants (HPPs) in the Drin Cascade – Fierza, […]
EPBiH not to pay dividends for 2017 as drought drives down profit
Shareholders of power utility Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH), majority owned by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), do not stand to get dividends for 2017, when the company saw its net profit plunge to BAM 620,282 (approximately EUR 317,000), from BAM 12.9 million (around EUR 6.6 million) a year earlier. Under a decision to be […]
Renewable sources of energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: issue of (un)sustainability
Author: Nihad Harbaš, Energy and climate change consultant Do we really know how much energy we generate and use in B&H? Consumption or use of energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is unknown, although data on the annual consumption of about 140 PJ can be found. Although this sounds unbelievable at first, the energy balances […]