In October, EPS earned 7.5 million euros trading electricity, it will soon start operating B3 in Kostolac

“ELEKTROPRIVREDA Srbije” has been exporting electricity for almost two months, but we don’t often see that in the news, said today the Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović during a tour of the EPS Dispatch and Trading Center.

– Although the summer was marked by numerous challenges due to which we procured part of the energy on the market, because during the drought we had record consumption and capital overhauls in Obrenovac and Kostolac that were long delayed, as well as the revitalization of the aggregates in the reversible hydroelectric power plant “Bajina Bašta”, everything is was successfully overcome and EPS achieved a profit of almost 30 billion dinars in the first nine months. That is 30 percent more than the planned profit, and EPS earned 7.5 million euros in electricity trade in October alone – said Đedović Handanović.

She expressed her satisfaction that she met young people at Dispečerski and Trejding, including a lot of women, who are strengthening the Serbian energy sector with their work and knowledge.

– The Government of Serbia wants to strengthen EPS, primarily with new production capacities. Examinations and tests have been completed, and the documentation for taking over the new block B3 in Kostolac is being completed. One new production capacity was completed, the first after more than 30 years – said Đedović Hanadanović.

The Minister of Mining and Energy emphasized that the first EPS wind farm and one smaller solar power plant will be completed next year, and that through the construction of 1 GW of solar power with 200 MW of battery storage at six locations and much-needed new capacities, the conditions for continued decarbonization will be created. She also said that the EPS portfolio is being strengthened through the purchase of energy under favorable conditions from other RES producers, who participated in the first auctions, which will be continued in order to ensure energy security for citizens and the economy in the coming period.

Dušan Živković, general director of EPS, pointed out that the role of the modern dispatch center is to optimize the operation of the power system, as if the trading center organizes electricity trade and power portfolio management.

– EPS is ready to welcome winter and we will ensure safe supply. There are more than 2.4 million tons of coal in the coal dumps, the hydrological situation is correct, and the reservoirs are at 95 percent of their maximum capacity – said Živković.