Vucic Announces Building of Bistrica Hydroelectric Power Plant Next Year

Hydropower plant (Free Images)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Dec. 27 that works to build the reversible hydroelectric power plant Bistrica, valued at EUR600 to 700 million, would begin next year.

While touring the village of Seniste, Vucic said there was no greater energy interest for Serbia than the plant, and that Serbia must have enough power to sell by 2028. "If you people don't object, this is our number one project, which will mean salvation for our country," Vucic told the villagers of Seniste, to their general approbation.

Without the reversible plant in Bistrica, Vucic said, Serbia cannot survive, as power consumption is increasing, 50 percent of which is used by various industries. "We can't put in new capacities without that, without these 650 reversible megawatts," Vucic said.

Plans for the Bistrica reversible hydroelectric power plant have existed since the 1980s, while the government has announced that the plant, located next to Djerdap 3, would raise total power production by 15 percent.