The Serbian state-owned power utility, EPS, has initiated a tender valued at approximately €650,000 aimed at developing a comprehensive long-term coal extraction strategy. This program will outline operational plans through 2035 and extend development projections to mid-century, focusing on the Kolubara and Kostolac coal basins. The objective is to establish a unified framework for all EPS mining assets.
In the Kolubara basin, the strategy emphasizes significant capacity expansion. EPS is in the process of installing two new conveyor-based transport systems for coal and overburden at Field E, which are expected to enhance annual production to between 10 and 12 million tons by the end of 2026. Notably, mining operations at Field G will conclude in 2026, with equipment being relocated to other active sites, particularly the Tamnava–Zapadno polje and the rapidly developing Radljevo mine.
Radljevo is positioned as a critical growth area, with coal extraction slated to commence in 2025. The introduction of additional bucket-wheel excavator systems in late 2026 is anticipated to facilitate a steady increase in production, potentially reaching around 7 million tons per year within three to four years. The long-term plan also prioritizes operational efficiency and environmental management, addressing coal blending and quality improvement alongside enhanced handling of ash, slag, and gypsum from thermal power plants.
Meanwhile, in the Kostolac basin, mining operations continue at the Drmno open pit, while production has ceased at Klenovnik and Cirikovac. Attention is now directed towards the future West Kostolac mine, which is currently in its preparatory phase. This phase includes spatial planning, feasibility studies, and the main mining design. The program will further delineate development pathways for Drmno, evaluate overburden disposal capacities, refine waste management strategies, and initiate new geological exploration campaigns to better classify and confirm coal reserves.
The tender remains open until February 5 and follows recent government decisions that have declared public interest for land expropriation in the Burovo cadastral area. This decision enables the expansion of Kolubara’s eastern mining zone and aligns with earlier EPS procurement activities related to exploratory drilling in the same region.
