Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, started his visit to Belgrade at the Serbian company Elektromreže Srbije (EMS).
Energy security is one of the main topics of Commissioner Várhelyi’s visit and a priority at the European level, especially after the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
During the visit to the EMS, the commissioner and ministers Dubravka Đedović and Tanja Miščević were presented with the current state of implementation of the Trans-Balkan electricity corridor, in the presence of the EU and German ambassadors in Serbia, as well as the Serbian ambassador to the EU.
The Trans-Balkan Energy Corridor is an energy project co-financed by the European Union that will ensure greater energy stability and efficiency in Serbia.
The construction of the Trans-Balkan Electric Power Corridor – Phase I, with a 400 kV transmission system, is a project of exceptional national and regional interest that improves the safety and stability of the network, ensures better connection for users of the transmission system and facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources.
Bearing in mind its geographical position, the Corridor acts as a pillar in the further integration of regional and national electricity markets into a single European market.
The project helps to fulfill the obligations of the Republic of Serbia regarding the participation of renewable energy in the gross final consumption, because it will be built in those regions where massive connection to the transmission system of renewable energy sources, especially from wind farms, is expected.
The value of the phases of works agreed so far is estimated at 154 million euros. The EU donation is worth 31.2 million euros, 82.8 million euros was obtained with a loan from the German banking group Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KFW), and 40 million euros is the national contribution of Serbia.
Photo: europa.rs