Serbian state-owned power utility EPS has started trial operation of a new flue gas desulfurization system at the Nikola Tesla B (TENT B) thermal power plant in Obrenovac, marking a significant step in the environmental modernization of the country’s largest coal-fired generation facility.
The project represents one of the largest environmental investments in the regional electricity sector and is expected to substantially reduce harmful emissions from a key source of electricity production in Serbia. According to officials, the completion of the system will bring the country’s largest thermal capacities into compliance not only with national regulations but also with European environmental standards.
Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Đedović stated that sulfur dioxide emissions at the plant are expected to decrease by up to 30 times once the system becomes fully operational. She also noted that particulate emissions are already being kept below required limits. The minister added that more than 420 million euros has been invested in desulfurization systems at TENT A and TENT B combined, with environmental benefits expected to extend beyond Obrenovac to Belgrade and surrounding areas.
EPS Director Dušan Živković said that the desulfurization facility at TENT B alone required an investment of around 250 million euros. The project was implemented in cooperation with Japanese and domestic partners, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which carried out the works. The system uses modern flue gas cleaning technology based on a wet limestone process, which removes sulfur compounds from exhaust gases.
An additional benefit of the process is the production of gypsum as a by-product. EPS reports that the gypsum already produced at the site meets European quality standards, with annual output expected to reach around 200,000 tons. The company sees this as an opportunity to further support circular economy practices while reducing industrial waste.
Beyond environmental improvements, EPS emphasizes that the investment also strengthens the long-term operational reliability of one of the core pillars of Serbia’s electricity system, enhancing both efficiency and the expected lifespan of the plant.
