Djedovic Handanovic: Preparatory works for Buk Bijela project complete

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Thursday Serbia had completed the preparatory works for a project to build a Buk Bijela hydropower plant in collaboration with Republika Srpska.

The minister said completing all environmental impact studies and selecting the main contractor was what remained to be done.

"The power plant's capacity is 114 MW and the project is justified energy-wise as well as commercially," she said.

Earlier, she met with her Montenegrin and Republika Srpska counterparts Sasa Mujovic and Petar Djokic to discuss regional cooperation and tackling obstacles to the Buk Bijela project.

Mujovic said it was important to work on strengthening power transmission capacities that were significant to all three parties, but that Montenegro did not want to either act to its own detriment or obstruct the progress of its neighbours.

He said Montenegrin authorities were waiting for an expert opinion on whether and how the Buk Bijela project would impact the country's Durmitor and Tara national parks.

Previously, Montenegro's Ministry of Energy and Mining has refused to take part in the project.