Pljevlja District Heating - key works to follow: District heating by next fall?

The Pljevlja district heating project is entering a new phase, and according to announcements by the authorities, key works on the primary heating pipeline should be intensified in the coming months, with the aim of having the district heating system ready for the start of the next heating season.

The project, whose total value, according to the available financial structure, exceeds 23 million euros, should enable heat from the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant to be brought to the city and part of the existing boiler rooms to be replaced with modern substations.

Project manager Veselin Sekulić He said that work on the first phase of the primary heating pipeline, approximately 2,3 kilometers long, is in its final phase.

"Technical inspection and acceptance procedures by state inspection bodies are underway, after which this part of the system should be handed over to the Municipality of Pljevlja for management. At the same time, work is being carried out on the second and third phases of the primary heating pipeline, with a total length of about 4,4 kilometers, which will include routes to existing boiler houses, future substations and other consumers in the city. Work has been completed on the section in Pavla Bulatovića Street and Mila Peruničića Street. The branches for the 'Ristan Pavlović' Primary School, the Secondary Vocational School and the 'Ada' Sports Center are being built. Hydrotests and tests are currently being carried out on these sections, followed by backfilling of the canal and the restoration of roads and public areas to their original condition, so that everything is ready before the start of the new school year," Sekulić told "Vijesti".

He adds that work is currently being carried out on King Petra Street, in the city center and one of the city's most important thoroughfares.

"This section is of particular importance for the continuation of the route towards Skerlićeva Street and reaching the existing boiler house, which should be shut down and converted into a substation after the project is completed. Works are being carried out in parallel at several other locations, including the section to the bridge on Ćehotina and the crossing over the river at the former 'Albona', as well as the branch towards the 'Boško Buha' Primary School, where a new substation is planned. The route continues towards the next bridge on the Breznica River. Works are currently taking place at several city locations, while the highest intensity of the mechanical phase is expected during September."

Sekulić said that the Ministry of Public Works is financing all works worth 8,8 million euros:

"The Ministry of Public Works will announce a tender worth 2,5 million euros in September for the contractor and the conversion of all these boiler houses into substations. In parallel, Elektroprivreda is also announcing a tender of 3,5 million euros for regulated steam withdrawal and the creation of a final consumption of 44 megawatts for the city of Pljevlja. The most important information for all citizens of Pljevlja is that a tender is also being announced for the design of a secondary network. Expansion of the hot water network to a new substation in Skerlićeva, a new substation in Tršova and a new hot water pipeline in Lovćenska Street to the new hospital, which includes the expansion of the network towards the Gornji Moćevac settlement. All these projects are being carried out in parallel in cooperation with the Municipality of Pljevlja, Elektroprivreda, and the Ministry of Public Works. All of this will be attempted to be completed in a synchronized manner by the spring of 2027, when district heating from the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant will be ready."

According to the financial structure, more than 23 million euros will be invested in the district heating of Pljevlja, including VAT, of which EPCG will provide 13 million euros, the Government through the Ministry of Public Works will provide another 10 million, while the Municipality of Pljevlja will allocate 145.000 euros for land expropriation.

The basis of the system is the Pljevlja thermal power plant. Steam extraction from the collector of own consumption of 10 MW is planned, as well as regulated steam extraction from the turbine of total power of 44 MW. A starting boiler room with a capacity of 2x16 MW is planned as a backup heat source.

The project is divided into three phases, with the first section being approximately 2,3 kilometers long, while the second and third phases are planned to be approximately 4,4 kilometers long.