Kovin power station

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Kovin power station is a shelved 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.

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Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Unit 1 shelved coal - lignite 350 unknown
Unit 2 shelved coal - lignite 350 unknown

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner
Unit 1 Naftna Industrija Srbije AD (NIS) [100.0%], Government of Serbia
Unit 2 Naftna Industrija Srbije AD (NIS) [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.[1][2]

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.[3] The companies reaffirmed their interest in the project in December 2017.[4]

A brief presentation of the project dated 2016 was made available on the website of ESI, acting as an advisor to the project.[5] The presentation listed Energetiski Kompleks doo, Ministry of Mining and Energy and Naftna Industrija Srbije) as the project's local shareholders.[5]

The power station appeared in the country’s Spatial Plan for 2021-2035.[6]

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.[7]

As of June 2023, the project was considered shelved given the lack of significant updates since June 2021. As of April 2024, there was no further news on the project.

Draft NECP (2023): 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).[8]

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.[9] In November 2023, Energy Community Secretariat released comments and recommendations on the draft NECP.[10] Serbia should present the final draft by June 2024.[10]

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."[11] China Huadian was expected to cover 80% of the cost and NIS to cover 20%.[12]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. "NIS, CMEC eye thermal plant Kovin," Republic of Serbia, September 13, 2012
  2. "NIS and a Chinese company interested in TPP Kovin". rtv.rs/. 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Serbia: Huadian China eyes Kovin coal mine investment," Serbia Energy, February 4, 2016
  4. "Kovin to get underwater coal mine and thermal power plant after all? – Chinese still interested in construction," eKapija, December 20, 2017
  5. 5.0 5.1 "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)
  6. "Serbia: key national plan risks cementing coal dependence," Bankwatch, June 29, 2021
  7. "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= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Serbia to officially commit to phasing out coal by 2050". balkangreenenergynews.com. April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Serbia’s draft NECP: What is the actual plan?" Bankwatch, July 17, 2023
  10. 10.0 10.1 "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)
  11. "=ESI - Energetski sistem integrator," ESI, accessed December 2020
  12. [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.