The coal mine and thermal power plant complex in Ugljevik has lifted its power prices by 15% due to the launch of its desulfurization unit, but the extension can’t regularly work until an operation permit is obtained.

RiTE Ugljevik disconnected its desulfurization system, Capital.ba reported. The subsidiary of Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) officially activated it just two months ago after long delays. The unit that Mitsubishi Power built in Ugljevik is offline as it still didn’t obtain the operation permit, the news outlet wrote.

RiTE Ugljevik boasted of having most environmentally friendly thermal power plant

The procedure with the relevant ministry is underway, the operator of the coal mine and thermal power plant complex said and added it expects the desulfurization system to start working regularly in the first quarter. The investment was worth EUR 85 million.

The firm expects the desulfurization system to start working regularly in the first quarter

When the addition was commissioned in Ugljevik in October, the management said the thermal power plant became the most environmentally friendly among such facilities in former Yugoslavia. State-owned RiTE Ugljevik got the approval to lift power prices by 15% due to the fact that it costs EUR 7.7 million per year to operate the unit.

Testing period was halted as dust filters malfunctioned

The flue gas desulfurization system’s test drive was suspended early this year because the electrostatic precipitator filtering system broke down. It was installed in 2017 and cost EUR 10.2 million.

When the desulfurization unit was opened, the firm claimed a Chinese company was interested in producing plasterboard from synthetic gypsum, its byproduct.

Mitsubishi Power was earlier called Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems. The Japanese company also has desulfurization projects in neighboring Serbia. Ugljevik is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s northeast, in the Republic of Srpska, one of two entities that make up the Balkan country.