Serbia’s state power utility EPS has launched a tender for consultancy work to revise procurement documents for the planned 660 MW Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower plant before an international construction tender.
The existing documentation was prepared by Energoprojekt Hidroinzenjering and will form the basis of procurement for the main construction contract.
The contract is expected to cover civil works, equipment manufacturing and supply, installation of hydromechanical, mechanical and electrical systems and subsequent testing and commissioning.
Before procurement of the main contractor can begin, the documentation must be aligned with requirements of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA.
The selected consultant will revise the package using JICA’s standard procurement documents and the 2017 FIDIC Yellow Book.
The work will include reviewing Particular Conditions that amend the standard FIDIC General Conditions to take account of Serbian legislation and project-specific requirements, identifying inconsistencies and recommending changes required for JICA approval.
The consultancy assignment is expected to last 10 months, with bids due by Oct. 6.
After JICA approves the final procurement documentation, EPS plans to launch the international tender under the agency’s rules for projects financed through Japanese official development assistance.
The Bistrica project would connect a new Klak reservoir on the Uvac river with the existing Potpec reservoir on the Lim through tunnels and pipelines.
It is designed for four reversible Francis units, with maximum gross head of about 380 metres, generating flow of 216 cubic metres per second and pumping flow of 168 cubic metres per second.
The plant is intended to provide Serbia with large-scale storage and balancing capacity, allowing electricity to be absorbed during periods of lower demand and returned to the grid during tighter system conditions.
