The government of Macedonia has announced the opening of a new tender for construction of the Cebren and Galiste hydropower plants on Crna reka. Concessions for Crna reka water use will be awarded as a result of the tender, which is the tenth to be announced.
“In conditions in which we seek to lead an expeditious and efficient policy in the fields of water and energy, with particular emphasis on use of renewable energy sources, which have an enormous impact on security in energy supply and environment protection, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning is accelerating its actions in implementation of this project,” said Minister Abdulacim Ademi. The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, which is responsible for the tender announcement, had proposed amendments of the tender conditions to the Macedonian government. The government accepted the amendments and initiated the tender announcement process for the Crna reka concessions. “We intend to announce the call for concessions for the use of water for production of electric energy from the power plant on Crna reka as soon as possible and we believe that potential concessionaries will be pleased with the amendments made
to this tender,” explained Ademi.
The minister added that the needs of the state and the demands of future concessionaries had to be taken into account when putting together the terms of water use for the Cebren and Galiste plants on Crna reka. As Ademi explained, the tender for concessions predicts the construction of a dam at Cebren, which would be between 182.5 and 192.5 metres high, with a minimum total capacity of 333 MW, as well as construction of a dam at Orlov Kamen. “The minimum percentage in the joint company that the future concessionary should offer to AD ELEM (JSC Macedonian Power Plants) should not be under 35 per cent. When the Cebren power plant starts working at full capacity, prices for electric energy transfer paid to AD MEPSO will be fixed and valid for the entire concession period at the rates for 2013 amounting to 4.4 euros per MWh. Tikves hydropower plant will be handed over for concessions three months after signing of the concession contract,” said Minister Ademi, adding that the new tender leaves the possibility of construction of the Galiste plant open, depending on whether the government deems it necessary in the future. Ademi announced that with these changes, the government expects successful implementation of the tender and selection of a company to implement the project.
All relevant institutions responsible for water, energy, economy, transport and finance will be included in the concession granting procedure, Ademi announced. In addition, he said that an important role will be given to the International Finance Corporation, which will confirm the predicted amendments to the tender documentation. Ademi also added that the tender will be announced in domestic media and one foreign newspaper.
According to information on the Macedonian ELEM website, Cebren HPP which was conceived as a reversible hydropower plant, should have a total installed capacity of 333 MW for turbines and 347 MW for a pump with an average production of electric energy of 840.3 GWh and investment of 318.5 million euros. Construction of this power plant should take six years.
Galiste hydropower plant will have an average power generation of 262.5 GWh, with a capacity of 193.5 MW and investment of 200.2 million euros. The construction deadline for the plant would be seven years. The existing power plant, Tikves, has a total installed power of 116 MW and annual production of 184 GWh. Construction of the Cebren and Galiste plants would enable maximum use of Crna reka with a total installed power of 640.5 MW and annual production of 1,286.5 GWh. ELEM Macedonian Power Plants AD is a company governing power plants and production of electric energy in the country and was founded through the restructuring of the Macedonian Energy System in 2005.
Source; Serbia Energy See desk/ELEM
