Tender launched for geothermal energy exploration in Croatia

The Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency has announced a public call for the selection of the best bid for geothermal energy exploration in the area of the city of Slatina, as well as in the municipalities of Sopje, Čađavica, Crnac, and Nova Bukovica in the Virovitičko-Podravska county, for the purpose of issuing an extraction license for energy use.

Bids must be submitted no later than September 20.

The public call refers to the Slatina 1, Slatina 2, Slatina 3, and Slatina 4 license blocks, the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency said on its website.

A drilling license shall be issued for a maximum of five years and can be renewed, but not more than two times, for periods of up to six months, the tender documentation reads.

Local media earlier reported that successful geothermal research could lead to the use of this renewable energy source for electricity generation, agricultural production in greenhouses, and tourism development.

Croatia has already started investing in geothermal energy. A year ago, the Đuro Đaković Group and Geoen signed a contract on the construction of the 10 MW Velika 1 geothermal power plant in the Velika Ciglena near the city of Bjelovar.