The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has put for public inspection the draft of amendments and additions to the spatial plan of the exploitation area of ​​the Kolubara lignite basin.
As stated in the document commissioned by EPS and prepared by JP Urbanizam Kragujevac and available for public inspection until December 22, the changes include detailed elaborations that provide the basis for further development of lignite exploitation within the Kolubara Mining Basin, application of renewable energy sources and production electric energy.
– Coal production in the Kolubara Basin in the period from 2021-2035 is planned to be around 29,000,000 tons per year, and from 2036-2040. will increase to a maximum of 30 million tons per year. In other words, the raw material base of the Kolubara coal basin has sufficient quantities of coal of appropriate quality that can, with appropriate investments, support the long-term development trend of electricity production – it is stated in the plan and it is added that, bearing in mind that Serbia still does not have access to lignite reserves on In Kosmet, only the Kolubar and Kostola basins are considered for the future construction of thermal power plants, which indicates the importance of further development of the Kolubara energy-industrial system.
It is reminded that according to the existing plans of EPS, by 2024, units A1-A5 in TE “Kolubara”, TE “Morava” and units A1-A2 in “TENT A” will be shut down due to extremely low efficiency and irrational operation , endangering the safety of people and equipment in work and extremely negative environmental impact.
It is added, however, that the limitation of 30 million tons of lignite per year makes the construction of new capacities and the inclusion of new technologies for the use of lignite for the production of electricity necessary.
It is recalled that according to the Energy Development Strategy, the construction of a new coal-fired capacity of 350 MW is foreseen by 2025, and another capacity of 350 MW by 2030.
– This creates the possibility of building the “Kolubare B” or “TENT B3” thermal power plant, also considering the plan that the existing capacities of the “Nikola Tesla A” thermal power plant, after revitalization and over 40 years of operation, will be shut down and replaced with thermal capacities of the same power – it is also stated adds that this enables the start of the construction of the second capacity in the period after 2025.
The plan states that within the site of the “Kolubara B” thermal power plant, with an area of ​​105.5 ha, the completion of the construction of the energy complex is planned.
– This implies the possible expansion of this location by about 60 ha, where production, mining capacities, plants, machinery, office space and other contents will potentially be relocated from several existing industrial-mining locations in accordance with the dynamics and plan of development of coal production and opening of new surface mines, as well as the potential reservation of space for (underground) carbon storage – the document says.
It is added that the “Kolubara B” thermal power plant was originally intended for the combined production of electricity and thermal energy, that is, as an out-of-town heating plant for the supply of thermal energy to Belgrade, but that concept has now been changed and abandoned.
– Until its completion, thermal energy from the boiler house “Tamnava-Istok” in the amount of about 650 kW will be used for heating the temporary facilities of the first phase of the realization of the main operating facilities. After the commissioning of phase I, thermal energy will be supplied from TE Kolubara B to the entire area of ​​the energy-industrial complex. However, in the case of the construction of a plant with a circulating fluidization layer for burning today’s out-of-balance lignite of the lowest power, in its cogenerative operation it could also take over the long-term supply of the city and industry of Lazarevac with heat energy for heating from the combined production of electricity and heat energy.
In the plan, however, it is also noted that the potential realization of investments in the Kolubara Basin is foreseen by the model of joint investment of EPS with a strategic partner by issuing a tender, whereby EPS makes available assets (facilities and equipment) that have already been built, and strategic investors invest capital, and in proportion to the capital invested, they acquire a share in ownership, which provides funds for the realization of projects.
It is added that this way of solving financing represents a significant step in the opening of the electricity market and enables the transfer of knowledge and new technologies, but it is also conditioned by the fact that JP EPS does not have its own funds, nor does it have the creditworthiness and financial potential to enable the required level of investment. which was primarily contributed to by the long-term policy of depreciating the price of electricity”.
When it comes to renewable energy sources in the area of ​​the Kolubara basin, the plan states that the amendments to the Spatial Plan reserve space for solar power plants in the area up to the Kolubara B thermal power plant, in the area of ​​the cadastral municipalities of Poljane (GO Obrenovac) and Stepojevac (GO Lazarevac ), and KO Kalenić (Municipality of Ub).
The spaces intended for photovoltaic solar power plants are the landfills “Radljevo” and “Turija”, after the planned reclamation.
Let us remind you that the construction of Kolubara B Thermal Power Station was suspended last year. That project, which was started in the 80s of the last century, was supposed to be online by 2024, according to announcements, eKapija reports.
