Djedovic meets with new Japanese ambassador

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic met with Japan's new Ambassador to Serbia Akira Imamura on Monday to discuss joint projects in energy and environmental protection.

"Energy occupies an important place in the cooperation between our two countries, especially when it comes to constructing a desulphurisation plant at the Nikola Tesla A and Nikola Tesla B coal-fired power plants, a project that will greatly help to reduce the facilities' impact on the environment and air quality," Djedovic said.

The parties noted that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was interested in cooperation on a project to build a Bistrica reversible hydropower plant and that, simultaneously with the preparation of an environmental impact assessment study, a justifiability study and design, discussions were also underway about financing possibilities for the capital energy sector project, an official statement said.

Djedovic said Serbia was grateful to the Japanese government and JICA for their financial and expert support.

"We hope the energy sector will be one of the most significant areas where we will deepen our cooperation, which we will discuss in Tokyo soon, during our planned visit," Djedovic said.

Imamura noted that the two countries had maintained quality relations for years and that Japan was ready to share with Serbia its knowledge and experience in energy transition and environmental protection.