Interconnective power line between Serbia and B&H to start working in 2020 – Investment in Serbian section estimated at around EUR 500,000

The 110-kV interconnective power line between the Srebrenica and Ljubovija substations might be put into operation in 2020, eKapija learns. According to the data we've received from Elektromreze Srbije (EMS), which has been put in charge of building the 2.6-km Serbian section, from Ljubovija to the B&H state border, their part of the job should be completed within a single construction season, that is, in 2019.

That the works in B&H should be completed in the same period, enabling the power line to be put into operation in 2020, has also been confirmed to us by Elektroprenos B&H. As they said, they've already defined the 6-km route in their territory. The preparation of the main project is to follow, and the works might start in 2019.

The first steps towards the realization of the project were made in November 2016 with the signing of the Agreement on Intentions between EMS, Elektroprenos B&H and the Independent System Operator in B&H. The project of energy interconnection between Serbia and B&H through this power line is one of the plans that were discussed at the first joint meeting of the Government of Serbia and the Council of Ministers of B&H, back in November 2015.

The realization of the project in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina started in early 2017 with the defining of power line routes, EMS told eKapija.

The routes have now been defined and the preparation of technical documentation and the construction itself are to follow.

The construction of the power line in Serbia, from Ljubovija to the border with B&H is to be financed from the EMS funds, whereas the B&H section is financed by Elektroprenos B&H.

A rough estimate of the investment in Serbia puts it at around EUR 500,000, EMS told eKapija.

– However, until technical documentation is prepared, it is not possible to determine the budget value with precision and it can only be guessed from the experiences from previous similar projects. That's the way we've come up with this figure – EMS told us.

Roughly the same amount, around a million convertible marks, is required for the purposes of the construction of the power line in B&H, Elektroprenos B&H confirms to eKapija.

Serbian section

The Serbian section will stretch from Ljubovija to the B&H state border. In late November 2017, the Municipal Assembly of Ljubovija initiated the first concrete activities within the project by adopting the decision on the preparation of the Detailed Regulation Plan for the construction of a 110-kV Ljubovija-B&H state border power line. The DRP has been completed and will be available for early public review from January 11. Those interested will be given 15 days to provide their comments and suggestions.

The total length of the power line in Serbia, according to the plan that eKapija has seen, is 2.6 kilometers. As the document states, the plan encompasses the territory from the Ljubovija substation tot he B&H state border. The power line then goes on to the Srebrenica substation.

The plan defines the route, the public purpose space (utility pole spots), the protective corridor of the power line, as well as regulations of development, construction, functions and other purposes. The manner of crossing with other infrastructural systems, as well as conditions and measures of environmental protection, natural and cultural heritage, have also been defined.

As the document says, the construction of the power line would solve the problem of radial power supply of substations Srebrenica, Krupanj and Ljubovija. It would also solve the problem of the N-1 safety criteria not being met, pertaining to switch-offs of power lines Osecina-Krupanj, Krupanj-Ljubovija and Srebrenica-Konjevic Polje fixed connection-Vlasenica-Zvornik.

The construction of the said power lines would also reduce the amounts of undelivered power in substations Srebrenica, Krupanj and Ljubovija in the periods when the power lines Osecina-Krupanj, Krupanj-Ljubovija and Srebrenica-Konjevic Polje fixed connection are unavailable due to unplanned switch- offs (malfunctions) and planned switch-offs for the purpose of regular maintenance, it is said.

– The construction of this power line will enable regular operations of the transfer network in the territory of Ljubovija – EMS told eKapija.

The company's planning team, which will prepare the technical documentation for the section in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, consists of engineers of Elektroistok Projektni Biro (Elektroistok Design Studio) and EMS experts in the field of high-voltage power lines.

K.S.

Elektromreža Srbije a.d. EMS Beograd

Elektroprenos Banja Luka

Vijeće ministara BiH

Vlada Republike Srbije

Opština Ljubovija

Elektroistok - Projektni biro Beograd

Independent System Operator in B&H

Srebrenica substation

Ljubovija substation

Krupanj substation

Osecina substation

Vlasenica substation

Zvornik substation

Konjevic Polje

power interconnection between Serbia and B&H

Ljubovija Bratunac power line

Ljubovija B&H border power line

Serbia B&H power line

DRP of Ljubovija B&H border power line