RETROSPECTIVe 2014 - Investments in ENERGY that attracted greatest attention of eKapija users

We present you the most interesting projects in the category of ENERGY.

Although 2014 was announced as "the year of energy", it is hardly likely we would agree on that from this perspective. Large number of investors in this field spent last year waiting for the new Energy Law which was adopted in late 2014. The Law should provide greater protection of buyers, as well as better terms for investors into energy. Will this document be a flywheel for "energy" investors will be known from projects implementation this year.

Last year was insecure for investors in renewable energy sources (RES), especially for wind parks but in 2015, start of construction of many new facilities is expected. Our readers also showed huge interest in RES during the entire year so the largest number of texts is in this field. eKapija opted for this field in its Theme Bulletin published in November.

The second place goes to the start of operations at solar power plant in Kladovo where Solaris energy poured EUR 3 m.

The biggest planned wind park in Serbia attracted huge attention of our readers and ranked the third. In June, Continental Wind Serbia (CWS) left without construction permit for the facility, but it got it again after a month. Head at CWS, Ana Brnabic, said for eKapija that adoption of Law on energy is a good thing for investors as well as that it provides room for adoption of the model of the Contract on electricity purchase based on which banks will be able to fund wind parks construction.

The fourth-ranked is also an investment in renewable energy sources. Namely, Mineco won the Second public call of the Ministry of mining and energy four locations for development and construction of mini hydro power plants in Valjevo, Dimitrovgrad and Paracin.

Another wind park ranked at our list. The fifth-ranked is the investment of French IEL, which in 2015 should start building wind park of 50 MW in Basaid. A total of EUR 70 m will be poured in this facility at Kikinda and the investor is planning investments in wind park in Mali Crnic as well as in geothermal energy in Vojvodina.

Much ado was also about the story which is seventh-ranked and refers to the story that German RWE, one of the leading electricity producers in Europe, is interested in acquiring the Electric Power Industry of Serbia" (EPS) and that it is ready to pay for it a few billion euros.

The interest of Slovakian company, Biotec, to pour EUR 8 m in four bio gas stations in Becej secured this story the eighth place on our list.

Producers of smart counters and supplementary equipment were waiting at the end of last year tender for implementation of these systems to the Electric Power Industry of Serbia. In mid-December, EPS released international tender for procurement of electrical counters with distant reading which will be funded from EBRD loan. Smart counters ranked the ninth at the reading rating list and the public call attracted huge attention since none of the companies from Serbia can fulfill terms of the tender that it has turnover of EUR 75 m in the last five years and that it has funds totaling at least EUR 25 m.

The tenth-ranked is planned investment of German EES Group in construction of three mini hydro power plants in Vrnajcka Banja where some EUR 60 m will be invested.

The eleventh-ranked is solar electric power plant of 1MW in Beocin which Prima Energy mainly funded through Erste bank loan.

One more thing - have you already read which projects attracted your greatest attention in the HEALTHCARE, AGRICULTURE and FOOD INDUSTRY?