Sveta Petka hydro plant put into use

Sveta Petka hydro plant.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM) director Vlatko Cingoski officially put into use Wednesday hydro plant "Sveta Petka".

The plant construction is worth EUR 75 million, which makes it one of the most expensive investments in the area of utilizing the country's energy potentials.

"After enormous efforts by all stakeholders and years of hard work, the project has been completed", said PM Gruevski.

Slovenian contractor "Riko" and Macedonian companies "Beton" and "Granit" as sub-contractors were involved in the project.

"The dam has been built, the reservoir has started to accumulate, and the system is ready for use. The missing link for the maximum use of river Treska's hydro potential has been set. The installed power of the hydro plant is 36,4MW and the annual output is about 66GWh. Sveta Petka completes the Skopsko Pole hydro system, which also includes Kozjak and Matka hydro plants", added Gruevski.

He referred to the fight for energy independence, including numerous projects for revitalization, enlargement and enhancement of Macedonia's energy system.

"Our work in this field will continue, whereas citizens will feel the benefits", said PM Gruevski.

ELEM director Cingoski stressed that the facility enriched the country from a technical, energy and economic aspect.

"The plant is fully automated and its operation can be remotely monitored and controlled by using the modern telecommunication and processing equipment", said Cingoski.

Agreements on construction of 21 small hydro power plants

Twenty-one small hydro power plants with total installed capacity of 23MW and projected annual output of 87GWh are to be constructed in Macedonia over the next three years, an investment estimated at EUR 40 million.
Two Italian and eight Macedonian companies will build the hydro plants, following Monday's signing of the concession agreements at the Ministry of Economy.
Minister Valon Saraqini said the plants would be constructed at rivers Bistrica, Pena, Brza Voda, Kriva Reka, Odranska, Beloviska, Baciska, Jablanica, bringing the total number of concession agreements for small hydro plants to 68.
"The prior 47 agreements include plants with total installed capacity of 34,7MW and annual output of 140GWh", he added.
The total investment for all hydro power plants is worth EUR 100 million.The next procedure for allocation of water concessions for electricity production would be implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, in line with the Law on Waters.

Macedonia signs 90m euros Power Plant deal with Bilfinger Berger

Bilfinger Berger is expanding its presence in the promising markets of Southeastern Europe with a major order in power plant service: the Group will modernize all three boilers in the lignite-burning power plant “TPP Bitola” which is part of JSC Macedonian Power Plants, the largest electricity generation company in Macedonia.
The order has a volume of about €90 million and additionally covers the long-term repair and maintenance of the facility. “TPP Bitola” is the most important power plant in the country and provides more than three quarters of Macedonia's electricity needs.
With the modernization, Bilfinger Berger is making a decisive contribution to the reduction of emissions at the power plant and to ensuring that it meets modern environmental standards.In the countries of Eastern Europe, great efforts are being undertaken to fulfill established climate protection requirements. In the next five years, up to 30 conventional power plants in Eastern European countries are to be modernized.
Macedonia is the first country to be follow through with its modernization plans.

Two companies submit bids for construction of hydro plants Cebren and Galiste

Two companies have submitted bids for the construction of hydro power plants Cebren and Galiste.Economy Minister Valon Saraqini said companies PPC from Greece and CWE from China submitted bids until the expiration of Thursday's deadline.
The tendering commission will complete the bids' evaluation by the month-end and submit it to the Government, which is to pass the final decision on the concessions.
PPC has said in its offer that Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM) is to own 28 percent of shares of the future power plants, whereas CWE has offered 40.5 percent. The share percentage offered to ELEM is the main criterion of the tender.
If the concessionaire is selected, the construction of Cebren and Galiste would begin in 1,5 year, following ELEM's completion of access roads and networking of the new power plants.

Macedonia awards geology contract for Lukovo Pole Dam, 5-MW Crn Kamen

SKOPJE, Macedonia 10/27/11 (PennWell) -- A Macedonia utility has awarded a contract to Civil Engineering Institute Makedonia to provide geological investigation services for construction of Lukovo Pole Dam on the Kosovo border and construction of the 5-MW Crn Kamen hydro plant.
AD Elektrani na Makedonija-Skopje (JSC Macedonian Power Plants-Skopje) recruited consultants in April to define geotechnical conditions for construction of the alignment and engineering structures of the dam, 20-kilometer headrace canal, and the small hydro plant.
The 545,544 euro (US$756,432) bid of Civil Engineering Institute was chosen over bids by a joint venture led by Karst d.o.o. and a joint venture of SEA Consulting S.r.l. (Geidata Engineering S.p.A. - INTERGEO Environmental Techology Ltd.)
Lukovo Poleis to be a 71-meter-tall rockfill dam, reservoir, and intake canal to divert water from the Korab Mountains. The project is to divert additional water through Macedonia's existing Mavrovo River cascade, resulting in additional generation at the 150-MW Vrutok, 19.2-MW Raven, and 12.8-MW Vrben hydroelectric plants. Additionally, the 5-MW Crn Kamen hydropower plant is to be built at the primary outlet of Lukovo Pole.

Macedonia plants 7.5 million trees

Under motto "Growing Together", a total of 7,5 million trees are planted at 100 locations on Tuesday, in the framework of fifth campaign "Tree Day - Plant Your Future", which also has a regional character. President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Cabinet Ministers, MPs, Macedonian Army members, pupils, students took part in the campaign.
Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, who planted seedlings in area Tri Krusi near Skopje, said the tree planting campaign has become a tradition by which Macedonia will be recognized in the region and Europe. "Nature and healthy environment contribute to the people's standard, enabling better life for all citizens", added Stavreski. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who also planted a tree in area Tri Krusi, said that as of this year, although symbolically, the campaign becomes a regional one, with seedlings also planted in Bulgaria and Albania, whereas mayors of bordering areas came to Macedonia to plant trees.
"The Tree Day campaign was launched following the 2007 wildfires in Macedonia. The afforesting represents serious potential for the future, the health of generations to come, along with creating a culture of environment enhancement among youth", stressed PM Gruevski.
The Government allocated Denar 50 million (EUR 815,000) for today's campaign. President Gjorge Ivanov planted seedlings in Veles, saying such a campaign united people regardless of their religious, ethnic and social affiliation. Approximately 20 million seedlings were planted in the previous four campaigns in the course of 2008 and 2009.