The environmental landscape surrounding the Buk Bijela hydropower plant project on the Drina River is undergoing significant scrutiny as a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been opened for public consultation. This development follows the annulment of the prior environmental permit in January 2025, which necessitated a fresh assessment after the original permit, issued in 2019, was revoked prematurely and subsequently removed from official records. The project, spearheaded by HES Gornja Drina, must now adhere to updated regulatory requirements, including an evaluation of cross-border environmental impacts as stipulated by the Espoo Convention.
The Buk Bijela project entails the construction of a comprehensive infrastructure setup that includes a dam, powerhouse, reservoir, and discharge structures. Additionally, riverbed excavation is planned to enhance the hydraulic head, complemented by temporary construction facilities, access roads, worker accommodations, and two mobile concrete plants situated on either bank of the river. Notably, land expropriation necessary for dam construction has already been finalized. This initiative is part of the broader Upper Drina hydropower system, which encompasses existing facilities such as the Foca, Sutjeska, and Paunci power plants. The total estimated value of the concession for this system exceeds €430 million.
In a strategic move last September, the Government of the Republic of Srpska (RS) sanctioned an extension of project timelines and an increase in installed capacity through an amended concession agreement with Serbia. This revised framework allows for a period of 30 months dedicated to preparatory work and permitting processes, followed by an anticipated 66 months allocated for construction and trial operations. Consequently, ground-breaking activities are not expected to commence until at least March 2028, with project completion projected toward late 2033. The financial outlay for preparatory activities is estimated at around €11 million, while overall construction expenses are forecasted to reach approximately €238 million.
