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The new block of the Drmno Thermal Power Plant, for the construction of which the contract with the Chinese CMEK was signed seven years ago, has not yet been completed.
Source: RTS
Illustration: EPA, FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
The contractor promises to be there by the end of 2022, but that is not acceptable, says Minister Zorana Mihajlovi, who visited the works in Kostolac and asked the contractor to accelerate them.
The contract for the construction of block B3 at the Drmno thermal power plant near Kostolac, worth 715 million euros, was signed by the Government of Serbia and EPS with the Chinese company CMEK in 2013, reports RTS.
The works began in 2018, but since then the deadline for its completion has been extended several times. The latest promise from the Chinese contractor is that it will be finished by the end of 2022.
“The new proposals of the contractor are unacceptable for us, and that is that this block should be completed by the end of 2022,” said Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovi.
The ministry, he says, will form a team that will be at the construction site with EPS.
“We will do everything possible to help the contractor if he needs help, in the sense that people come, the team arrives on time, etc., but on the other hand we will talk a lot with all the people in this company who manage and contribute to taking certain decisions and to make an effort to complete this block long before we have now received the announcement, “said Mihajlovieva.
Unit B3, with a capacity of 350 megawatts, is the first power unit in Serbia to be built after a quarter of a century, and its completion will contribute to more stable electricity production in EPS.
“We lost about five years to a serious start. This contract was signed in 2013, the works started in 2018. I am sure that despite all the problems, we will be able to accelerate the work by involving more workers, China and CMEK.” I am sure that during 2021, at the beginning of 2021, we will see significant changes here on site, ”says Milorad Gri, EPS interim CEO.
Minister Mihajlovi denied public speculation about the privatization of EPS, but announced its restructuring.
“EPS will not privatize or lay off workers. We have a problem with qualified labor, on the contrary, we need people, from the most professional to the rest. So that means expanding EPS, that means strengthening EPS and its regional position. “, emphasizes the minister.
Apart from EPS, “Srbijagas” is also waiting for changes, but the reform does not mean a price increase.
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