Kovin power station
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Kovin power station is a cancelled power station in Kovin, Vojvodina, Serbia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Kovin power station | Kovin, Vojvodina, Serbia | 44.75, 20.966667 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Cancelled | coal: lignite | 350 | unknown |
| Unit 2 | Cancelled | coal: lignite | 350 | unknown |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Naftna Industrija Srbije AD [100%]; Government of Serbia[1][2][1][2] | Naftna Industrija Srbije AD [100.0%]; Government of Serbia |
| Unit 2 | Naftna Industrija Srbije AD [100%]; Government of Serbia[1][2][1][2] | Naftna Industrija Srbije AD [100.0%]; Government of Serbia |
Background
In 2012, it was reported that the Serbian Oil Company (Naftna Industrija Srbije or NIS) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) expressed interest in conducting coal exploration work in Kovin, including a new coal pit and new 700 MW capacity thermal power plant.[3][4]
The project was mentioned as potential in the new energy strategy of Serbia approved by the government in May 2015 and awaiting approval from the parliament as of July 2015.
In February 2016, Chinese companies China Huadian and Tianin Dredging said they were awaiting a decision from the Serbian Ministry of economy on their proposed MoU for a strategic partnership.[5] The companies reaffirmed their interest in the project in December 2017.[6]
A brief presentation of the project dated 2016 was made available on the website of ESI, acting as an advisor to the project.[7] The presentation listed Energetiski Kompleks doo, Ministry of Mining and Energy and Naftna Industrija Srbije) as the project's local shareholders.[7]
The power station appeared in the country’s Spatial Plan for 2021-2035.[8]
A media article from August 2022 referred to the project to build a new coal mine in Kovin area, but stated that the thermal power plant was not mentioned in the actualized project.[9]
As of June 2023, the project was considered shelved given the lack of significant updates since June 2021. Given no updates on the project for several years and Serbia's adoption of the final NECP in July 2024, the status of the project was revised to "cancelled", as of September 2024.
Draft NECP (2023) and Final NECP: No New Coal
It was reported in April 2023 that Serbia was soon expected to officially announce its intention to phase out coal as soon as possible or by the end of 2050 at the latest. The obligations to decarbonize and shut down thermal power plants are part of a bill on the ratification of a contract on guarantees for the EUR 300 million loan that Elektroprivreda Srbije secured from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).[10]
In July 2023, Serbia’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan was on public consultation. As Bankwatch summarized, no new coal plants seemed to be planned after Kostolac B3, but there was no information about the phase-out timetable for existing plants.[11] In November 2023, Energy Community Secretariat released comments and recommendations on the draft NECP.[12] Serbia should present the final draft by June 2024.[12] In July 2024, Serbia adopted the NECP and has aligned itself with Europe’s vision for the decarbonization of the energy sector. In the same month, Serbia also released a draft Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia up to 2040 showing no plans to build new thermal power plants.[13][14]
Financing
"Major financier and future shareholder of the Project (coal mine and thermal power plant) will be CHDHK – China Huadian Hong Kong Corporation Ltd while NIS Gazprom will (as the ongoing financier of the Project) remain a minority shareholders along with Republic of Serbia."[15] China Huadian was expected to cover 80% of the cost and NIS to cover 20%.[16]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240212210611/https://www.esi.co.rs/documents/kovin%20project%20presentation%20%5B2017-02-06%5D.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20240212210628/https://www.ekapija.com/en/news/1975323/kovin-to-get-underwater-coal-mine-and-thermal-power-plant-after-all. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "NIS, CMEC eye thermal plant Kovin," Republic of Serbia, September 13, 2012
- ↑ "NIS and a Chinese company interested in TPP Kovin". rtv.rs/. 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia: Huadian China eyes Kovin coal mine investment," Serbia Energy, February 4, 2016
- ↑ "Kovin to get underwater coal mine and thermal power plant after all? – Chinese still interested in construction," eKapija, December 20, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "ENERGY SYSTEM INTEGRATOR LTD Belgrade, February 2016 presentation of Kovin Energy Complex Project" (PDF). www.esi.co.rs. February 2016.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 29 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia: key national plan risks cementing coal dependence," Bankwatch, June 29, 2021
- ↑ "Novi Kovin Project to Start? – Underwater Exploitation of 3 Million Tons of Lignite a Year Planned in Mine Near Malo Bavaniste, Unique in the World". https://www.ekapija.com/. August 2022.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "Serbia to officially commit to phasing out coal by 2050". balkangreenenergynews.com. April 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia’s draft NECP: What is the actual plan?" Bankwatch, July 17, 2023
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "RECOMMENDATIONS 1/2023 by the Energy Community Secretariat on the Draft integrated National Energy and Climate Plan of the Republic of Serbia" (PDF). www.energy-community.org. November 2023.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 59 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia up to 2040 with Projections up to 2050" (PDF). www.mre.gov.rs. July 2024.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 35 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Serbia publishes Draft Energy Sector Development Strategy up to 2040". balkangreenenergynews.com. July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "=ESI - Energetski sistem integrator," ESI, accessed December 2020
- ↑ [2017-02-06.pdf "Presentation of Kovin Energy Complex Project,"] February 2016
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
