Combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Pancevo should be commissioned by mid-2021, said CEO of Russian company Gazprom Energoholding Denis Fedorov.
Fedorov explained that the extension of the deadlines for the completion of this facility was a consequence of the restrictions related to coronavirus in Serbia and China, adding that there were no penalties for the delay. He said that there are plans for further investments of Gazprom Energoholding in Serbia, adding that three projects of similar capacity were being considered and he assessed the construction of a wind farm of 200 MW as good potential.
Initially the plant was supposed to be completed by June 2020, but Gazprom extended the completion deadline by the end of the year and later to the second quarter of 2021. In 2015, Serbian oil company NIS, majority owned by Russian GazpromNeft, has signed an agreement with Gazprom Energoholding, a part of Gazprom Group, on the establishment of joint company for the construction of thermal power plant near Pancevo. In October 2017, NIS signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract on a turnkey basis worth 180 million euros with Shanghai Electric Group. It was initially expected that the construction of CHPP Pancevo will start in the second half of 2018 and be commissioned by the end of 2019. The construction of CHPP Pancevo has officially started in March 2019. 200 MW power plant will be built within NIS’ oil refinery complex in Pancevo, the project will cost 180 million euros and it is expected to be completed in mid-2020 and fully operational by the end of the year. It should contribute to an increase in the stability of supply of electricity, thanks to directing up to 65 % of the power produced to the energy system of Serbia, while also covering the needs of Pancevo refinery for electricity and steam.