Serbian president says nation will shut its coal plants when Poland does

Serbia is under pressure to lose its energy security, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić said, adding he would not allow the country, which is now an exporter of electricity, to become the biggest importer. Serbia has lignite and it will not give it up, while coal power plants will be shut down when Poland does the same, Vučić claimed.

Aleksandar Vučić, the President of Serbia, said ecology has become the number one topic in Serbia, although that there are many more important topics for him. The change demonstrates that people live better, he asserted, but added that Serbia is under additional pressure to lose its energy security.

When Poland is forced to shut down coal-fired power plants, then Serbia will do the same, the president said. Serbia now produces 34 TWh of electricity per year, and consumes 32 TWh, while the rest is exported, he noted.

Vučić revealed Serbia is considering the construction of the Đerdap 3 hydropower plant and underscored that he doesn’t see a reason for the project to be opposed by anyone over environmental damage to the Danube river.

The president said Serbia secured additional quantities of natural gas with a new pipeline and added he would not allow the country to become the biggest importer of electricity.

August 2021

IEEFA