ANTIC: Hydro potential could bring together the Western Balkans region

At the meeting of the ministers of energy of the countries of the Western Balkans, held in Skopje, it was concluded that the Republic of Serbia was successfully carrying out the implementation of “soft” energy measures. Minister of Energy of Serbia Aleksandar Antic pointed out that the process of separating distribution and gas transfer operators, which the Energy Community insisted on, was also in progress. The ministers from the region also signed the Regional Energy Efficiency Program and agreed on the regional master plan for the construction of hydro power plants in the Balkans.

Minister Antic says that Serbia lacks energy capacities and the the number of energy facilities needs to increase.

– What's crucial is the agreement on the preparation of a joint study, a master plan related to the total regional hydro potential, as the region agrees that we lack energy capacities, that we need to increase the number of energy facilities and that it is the hydro potential of the region that can bring us together and something we can agree about and utilize together – Antic points out.

It was also said at the meeting that a considerable number of measures within the Spot Market and Cross-Border Balance Development had been fully implemented.

– Regarding the measures towards separating distribution and transfer system operators, the implementation in the Republic of Serbia is in progress – Antic pointed out.

The ministers of energy of the six countries of the Western Balkans confirmed their dedication to implementing the Sustainability Charter, which will result in cleaner environment through implementation of energy efficiency measures and utilization of renewable energy, the joint statement says.

– Serbia recognizes the importance of hydro power consumption in achieving the goals in the field of RES and deeply supports investments in new hydro power potentials – Minister Antic said.

– To that end, we also welcome the preparation of the Regional Hydro Master Plan, which will grow into the Western Balkans Hydro Energy Development Study – Antic emphasized.

One of the goals of the meeting of the ministers was to realize the measures agreed at the Paris conference, as well as to prepare the summit to be held in July in Trieste.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Aleksandar Antic

Energy Community

Regional Energy Efficiency Program

energy efficiency

renewable sources of energy

Regional Hydro Master Plan

Western Balkans Hydro Energy Development Study

hydro potentials of Serbia

hydro potentials of the Balkans