Minister of Energy, Development and Environment Protection Zorana Mihajlovic visited yesterday HPP “Pirot”, and hosts were Goran Knezevic, Director of the Company “Djerdap HPPs” and Zoran Ilic, director of the branch in Pirot. As announced the Minister of Energy, it is planned to invest 10 to 20 MEUR in the youngest building of “Serbia Power Utility Company” during this year.
– Forthcoming talks with international financial institutions will ensue in order to provide necessary funds for a new, capital investment in HPP “Pirot” modernization – said Mihajlovic.
Goran Knezevic, Director of the company “Djerdap HPPs” pointed out to the problems the company and a branch in Pirot faced with, especially to the long-term and inherited problems with the local government, which might have an impact on the society future operation and development. Speaking of problems, Mihajlovic particularly highlighted the problem in cooperation with the local government in connection with the land expropriation and that it slows projects of hydro power plants, which inevitably leads to delay in plans accomplishment.
– The Ministry of Energy will mediate in these problems solving in order to turn pre-planned money into projects for the benefit of the citizens of Pirot – said the Minister of Energy. – EPS management and Department of Energy will be working on the investment plan in HPP “Pirot”. Municipality of Pirot is rich in water resources for the construction and operation of small hydro power plants and we will announce a new public call for the small hydropower plants construction in Serbia very soon. The state, as well as in the last term would be “tailwind” for investors and investments in the Serbian economy.
Minister Mihajlovic announced that she would send inspection to specie all speculation about any possible negative impact on the lives and health of the citizens of Pirot due to the environmental problems in Pirot.
Source; Serbia Energy
