Academics, UNDP, NIS, Mining and Power Generation Ministry representatives made up a “Energy Efficiency – Investment in Future” panel deliberating new solutions for the improvement of energy efficiency and Serbia’s achievements in this realm. Igor Korac, deputy director of NIS Energy spoke about new power generation projects being delivered by NIS. In his words, this company within its numerous activities aimed at streamlining energy efficiency of its plants and development of renewable energy resources, focused especially on the project concerning the construction of small-scale power plants at gas fields, as well as tapping into geothermal water. “Currently, our system comprises five operational electricity plants, their total installed capacity around 6,3 МW. Another four 5 MW electricity plants is being built, which will bring NIS electricity production to almost 12 МW before the year’s end. Thus, NIS resolves two issues – using gas, where there is no infrastructure for its placement into transportation or distribution system and reducing the emission of noxious gases into atmosphere. The existing NIS plants have already generated around 20 million Кwh. Each year, NIS has been increasing the consumption of gas used for power generation, with anticipation of 160 million cubic meters by 2018”, Korac said. Korac has emphasized that NIS is involved in the construction of plants for compression of natural gas, claiming that a NIS refuelling station before year’s end is poised to open the retail of that energy resource. He also announced the availability in 2015 of compressed natural gas at filling stations Zmaj 2 and Zarkovo in Belgrade. “Other than that, we attach great importance to greater involvement of geothermal capacities. Currently, NIS owns 75 sources, 12 out of them active. Our largest partners in using of this particular resource are spas Kanjiza and Junakovic, but our capacities are such that we are capable of supplying numerous partners”, Igor Korac points out. Antonela Solujic, head of section for streamlining energy efficiency in the Ministry of Mining and Power Generation, has said that Serbia is poised to further improve its energy efficiency. “Serbias 2030 power generation development strategy envisages 9 per cent savings compared to the current level of consumption. The savings to be achieved by way of investment into energy efficiency shall bring about reduced budget expenditure for the procurement of energy resources, thus opening prospect of development of other economy segments”, Ms Solujic said. As a representative of the respective ministry she went on to point out that the government has taken on the role of a promoter of legislative and financial consolidtion of energy efficiency, primarily by adopting adequate regulations based on relevant EU directives, as well as provision of funds for investing into raising the level of knowledge and investment. “Serbia has adopted respective regulations, which bring about investment into the level of energy efficiency, these procedures to be financed by EU budget, Serbia’s Budget fund, budget of local administrations as well as giving incentives to private investments. Other than that, by making changes to respective regulations an institutional framework has been set up for training power generation managers, who are to put into practice, within their companies, projects aimed at streamlining energy efficiency, as well as training of energy advisors, who will monitor the progress of the whole process in the field”, Ms Solujic explained. A UNDP representative, Maja Matejic, has presented the projects supported by her agency in order to streamline energy efficiency in Serbia, while Vladimir Bozickovic, a professor at Mechanical Engineering School in pancevo, has presented a small-scale windpower generators construction project, that had been put into practice by his students aided by NIS. The ensuing discussion acknowledged NIS commitment in its capacity as a large company to improve energy efficiency. “Most importantly, energy efficiency shall be viewed as savings for the profit, as this is the only way to attract the interest of someone investing into it. NIS is a good example how large companies do it, they in association with the government bodies are supposed to spearhead this great business”, Maja Matejic pointed out.
