VISKOVIC: Construction of HPP Buk Bijela to start soon in cooperation with Serbia

The prime minister of Republika Srpska, Radovan Viskovic, stated this Wednesday, January 29, that the beginning of the preparatory works on the construction of the Hydro Power Plant Buk Bijela should soon be made official with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Foca.

The project has alarmed ecologists, as they believe that the flooding of the entrance to the Piva Kanjon and the lower course of the Tara would cause great environmental damage. Another contentious aspect is the position of Montenegro on the project, due to the cross-border impact on its territory.

Republika Srpska signed the Memorandum on the construction of the HPP Buk Bijela of 93 MW in July 2017 with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), expecting the Chinese state bank to provide the financing.

For the purpose of the construction of the HPP Buk Bijela, but also another two planned HPPs, Foca and Paunci, Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske formed a new company, Hidroenergetski sistemi Gornja Drina, with the seat in Foca.

The construction of three new hydro power plants has been agreed with Serbia, and the total value of the works is estimated at BAM 850 million (EUR 425 million).