Republika Srpska exclusive: EFT’s new TPP Stanari into operation and grid in 1Q 2016, the project analysis

Published on 9. December 2013., SEE Energy News

TPP Stanari will be put into commercial operation in the first half of 2016 and the first fire up the furnace is expected in late 2015, announces technical director Savo Markovic. It is designed and arranged that TPP produces 2,000 gigawatt-hours of energy per year, and to have the availability of 7,500 hours of work on the network at full capacity. Distribution facility – substation, voltage of 400/110 KV, will be built to connect to the power system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. TPP Stanari is the first new power generation project for the last 30 years in the region of SEE. New TPP is owned by electricity trading company EFT.

“With the commissioning of Thermal Power Plant, security of supply of electricity consumers will be significantly improved, bearing in mind that the readiness of existing power plants in the Republic of Srpska and BiH will be weaker due to age and the expected increase in consumption,” said Markovic.

It is designed and arranged that TPP produces 2,000 gigawatt-hours of energy per year, and to have the availability of 7,500 hours of work on the network at full capacity. Distribution facility – substation, voltage of 400/110 KV, will be built to connect to the power system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mirkovic said that three concession contracts are signed with the Government of the Republic of Serbian – for coal, water and thermal power plant, for a period of 30 years, with the possibility of extension for another 15 years.

On the basis of concession contracts seven million will be paid annually, with additional contributions and taxes, to the budget of the local community and the Republic of Srpska, only on the basis of the concession fees.

“Such facilities are designed to an operational life of 30 years with the possibility after 200,000 operating hours to revitalize a lifetime of about 10 to 15 years,” explains Mirkovic and notes that the environment does not have power plants with a longer service life of 40 to 50 years.

Lifespan of TPP “Stanari” is aligned with the coal reserves, which is obtained from open pits Raskovci and Ostruznja. The installed TPP power of 300 MW and planned coal consumption of 305 tons per hour are adjusted to estimated reserves of 108 million tons of coal.

Annual estimated consumption is up to 2.3 million tons, but if the coal quality is lower, consumption will be higher.

Stanari lignite, with low sulfur and ash content, but with low calorific value, is acceptable for burning in thermal power plant, making it environmentally friendly. The amount of ash in the coal are minimal – about nine percent.

The burning of coal is carried out in a specific kind of boiler which no one has in the surroundings, but that is acceptable for this type of coal, from environmental and mining aspects. Since there is not enough of technological water, the air cooling is envisaged, and water consumption is only 95 cubic meters per hour, while plants in the region spend for their work even more than 1,000 cubic meters of water.

TPP “Stanari” is designed to comply with EU directives on environmental protection which are more stringent than current law in this area, which makes it environmentally safe. Limit emissions of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides is 110 milligrams per normal cubic meter, which is twice lower than the European regulations.

The emission of ash from the chimney of 150 meters, which will be released in the atmosphere is about 20 milligrams per normal cubic meter. Deposition of slag and fly ash will be aligned to modern ecological methods and will be carried out in a specially protected waterproof packs, which will be stored in part of the mine where coal mining is completed.

Mine and TPP Stanari as a socially responsible company in a relatively small community is trying to follow the work of the municipality. So far, the local schools are equipped with modern information technologies.

“Some of the scholars are employed in the company, and in cooperation with the Municipality the Cultural Centre was built too”, says Mirkovic for Srna.

The construction of TPP Stanari is conducted on a “turnkey”. In May 2005, EFT group takes the mine in an international tender as the majority owner, and since November 2006 as a 100% owner.

Under the name of EFT – Enterprise Mine and Thermal Power Stanari is operating since January 2008. The total project value is greater than 550 MEUR, which includes the construction of thermal power plant and mine development to the required capacity.

In May 2010, the contract for construction of Stanari was signed with the Chinese company Dongfang Electric Corporation, for which the Chinese Development Bank provided a loan in the amount of 350 MEUR.

When completed, the plant will employ about 850 workers.

Source; Serbia Energy See desk