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Working group on promoting regional energy efficiency to be formed
Belgrade,
18 December 2007
Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Aleksandar Popovic said today at the third ministerial council meeting of the Energy Community that a working group for promoting regional energy efficiency will be formed.
After the meeting held as part of Serbia’s chairmanship over the Energy Community, Popovic said at a press conference that a list of potential projects for regional investments has been determined in order to present them to potential donors since this would show strategic course of development in certain countries.
The Minister said that Serbia is interested in receiving donations for regional electric power interconnections, gas pipeline connection to the neighbouring countries and building of underground gas storages using the Energy Community as a platform. He pointed to the fact that the mentioned list is susceptible to changes and depending on the situation development, certain suggestions would be added or expelled. Popovic also informed the press that Serbian hydroelectric power plants make up around 40% in energy production while alternative energy sources participate with less than 1%.
He stressed that Serbia should motivate the utilisation of alternative energy sources by means of electric power price or budget resources, as well as to simplify bureaucracy and launch concessions on the building of small hydroelectric power plants.
According to him, Serbia may also motivate the building of solar power plants by interest-free loans for those who want to invest and similarly stimulate energy efficiency.
Deputy Director-General of Energy and Transport in the European Commission Fabrizio Barbaso said that the issues of energy market and policy have been discussed as well as the improvement of social aspect, i.e. the protection of vulnerable consumers and social dialogue development. He said that both budget and work programme for the following two years have been adopted today and pointed to the fact that Serbia’s participation in the Energy Community's activities is appreciated especially at the level of expertise and technological knowledge.
Barbaso underlined that Serbia will continue with further harmonisation with the EU legislation and added that Georgia has been given observer status at today’s meeting while France has been approved participant status in the Energy Community.
The Minister said that Serbia is interested in receiving donations for regional electric power interconnections, gas pipeline connection to the neighbouring countries and building of underground gas storages using the Energy Community as a platform. He pointed to the fact that the mentioned list is susceptible to changes and depending on the situation development, certain suggestions would be added or expelled. Popovic also informed the press that Serbian hydroelectric power plants make up around 40% in energy production while alternative energy sources participate with less than 1%.
He stressed that Serbia should motivate the utilisation of alternative energy sources by means of electric power price or budget resources, as well as to simplify bureaucracy and launch concessions on the building of small hydroelectric power plants.
According to him, Serbia may also motivate the building of solar power plants by interest-free loans for those who want to invest and similarly stimulate energy efficiency.
Deputy Director-General of Energy and Transport in the European Commission Fabrizio Barbaso said that the issues of energy market and policy have been discussed as well as the improvement of social aspect, i.e. the protection of vulnerable consumers and social dialogue development. He said that both budget and work programme for the following two years have been adopted today and pointed to the fact that Serbia’s participation in the Energy Community's activities is appreciated especially at the level of expertise and technological knowledge.
Barbaso underlined that Serbia will continue with further harmonisation with the EU legislation and added that Georgia has been given observer status at today’s meeting while France has been approved participant status in the Energy Community.
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