Initial Documentation Commissioned for Djerdap 3 Hydroelectric Plant

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic (BETAPHOTO/Ministarstvo ruradstva i energetike/Nenad Kostic)

On Sept. 23, the Ministry of Mining and Energy announced it has signed a contract with a consortium led by the Jaroslav Cerni Water Institute regarding the development of one part of the conceptual and technical documentation for the Djerdap 3 hydroplant.
 
According to the press release, the consortium was contracted to create a pre-feasibility study and general project description along with a spatial plan for the special purpose area and strategic environmental impact assessment.
 
“The Djerdap 3 Reversible Hydroelectric Plan represents one of the most important strategic projects for the future of Serbia’s electrical power system. Depending on its capacity, Djerdap 3 has the potential to become Europe’s largest natural battery i.e. power storage facility,” Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic stated.

The actualization of the project, she added, will enable the greater integration of renewable energy sources in Serbia and Southeastern Europe, will provide significant capacities for balancing the electric power system, will further enhance the country’s energy security and safety and will strengthen Serbia’s position on the regional market.

The Ministry went on to say that the Djerdap 3 project envisages utilizing the Danube’s available hydroelectric potential via the phased construction of a hydroelectric plant with two potential upper reservoirs in the Severni Kucaj area and an equipment building on the Danube’s right riverbank some 64 km upstream from Djerdap 1.

The statement also explained that the analyses conducted so far have considered a variety of models for the project, with initial estimates claiming Djerdap 3’s capacity could reach 1,800 MW. The investment value of the undertaking had been projected at EUR2.6 billion, with room for expansion.