The importance of sustainable development, a responsible attitude towards natural resources and the environment and the rationalization of energy consumption were the topics of the panel discussion “Green energy – for a more sustainable future”.
The panel was attended by Sara Pavkov, State Secretary in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Milan Macura, Acting Director of the Directorate for Financing and Encouraging Energy Efficiency of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, and Ivan Dmitriev, Director of the HSE Function in NIS, the organizational part of the company responsible for safety and health at work and environmental protection.
Sara Pavkov said that the Law on Climate Change in Serbia was adopted in 2021, and that concrete measures were defined that will lead to a reduction in the emission of pollutants, as well as the greenhouse effect.
“It is about a process that will lead to greater use and diversification of energy sources through the use of renewable energy sources, along with the need to protect the environment in all legal frameworks and what is defined by existing regulations,” Pavkov pointed out, adding that the ministry through several segments encourages the private sector to use renewable energy sources, as well as that it is necessary to find a compromise between environmental protection and development.
Milan Macura informed those present about the steps taken by the Government of Serbia and the relevant ministry in order to improve energy efficiency and introduce as many renewable energy sources as possible:
“Today, at the session of the Government of Serbia, the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan was adopted, the goal of which is to improve and increase renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. In order to have sustainable energy, we have to look at how we produce thermal energy as well. In previous years, the Ministry launched a project to introduce biomass into heating systems and district heating systems. In February, we put into operation the heating plant in Majdanpek, and next to it, three new heating plants in Novi Pazar, Mali Zvornik and Priboj. “We are continuing the second phase of biomass, where we expect that the new six heating plants will receive a completely clean source of energy,” said Macura.
Dmitriev pointed out that NIS is not only an oil company, but also an energy company and that ecology is an integral part of NIS’s strategy.
“We have significantly strengthened the energy segment in the company and we will continue to invest in that part of the business. The goal is that by 2030, more than 50 percent of consumption in NIS will be from renewable energy sources. At the same time, we are also thinking about how to improve environmental protection and the environment in which NIS develops its business, and this year, as part of our “Communities Together” program, we allocated 144.5 million dinars for projects that will enable the installation of solar panels on public facilities in the local communities where we operate,” Dmitriev pointed out, adding that NIS installed solar panels at 45 gas stations, and recently at the water factory “Jazak”.
The meeting discussed the possibilities of increasing the share of electricity production from renewable energy sources (RES) and the importance of implementing RES projects in order to achieve carbon neutrality and improve environmental protection. The panelists talked about how companies can contribute to finding the best solutions in the process of implementing the energy transition, and in addition to examples of good practice, there was also talk of improving legislation, the state’s strategy and plans in this area, as well as the need to educate new staff who will contribute to the improvement of the renewable resources sector with their knowledge and new skills.
Since 2009, the NIS company has invested more than 900 million euros in environmental projects and business initiatives that have had significant effects on the improvement of the ecological image in Serbia, of which more than 130 million euros have been invested in exclusively “environmental” initiatives. NIS remains consistent with the “green” direction in business, and this approach implies greater investments in the production of electricity from natural resources, both within the company and in partner cities and municipalities. With this goal, within the framework of the social responsibility program “Communities together”, NIS recently announced a tender worth 144.5 million dinars, intended for the financing of projects to install solar panels for the production of their own electricity, in which institutions can participate until September 13 of public importance in 13 local governments.
The terms and conditions of the competition are published on the website of the NIS company, you can view them here.
Source: NIS
Source: energetskiportal.rs
