Conference "Serbian Companies on the Changing Power Market”
The conference ‘Serbian Companies on Changing Power Market’ was held in Belgrade on February 22, 2022, organized by news portal Balkan Green Energy News. The event brought together leading energy experts and representatives of state and international institutions, private companies and public enterprises, electricity traders and suppliers, investors, and energy service providers, with the aim of kick-starting the discussion on the outlook for the power market in Serbia for the next five
years as well as on new roles for participants in the market.
The conference was opened by Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Urs Schmid, Ambassador of Switzerland to Serbia, and Zorana Mihajlović, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy.
“The implementation of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package will require substantial changes in the electricity market design in order to make markets more flexible and consumer-oriented in the Energy Community”, the international organization’s secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski said in his opening remarks. The next challenge is to set 2030 targets for energy efficiency, renewables and greenhouse gas emissions, he added.
Progress in the energy transition can be achieved only through close cooperation with the private sector, Ambassador of Switzerland Urs Schmid stressed and warned the public sector alone cannot solve the current challenges, especially the growing demand for electricity for social and economic development. “At the same time, we have the need to decarbonize,” the top diplomat underscored at the opening of the event.
By changing practically all the energy laws last year, the government made the first step in the energy transition, which is not easy, she pointed out. “The challenges are global; the answers are national. There is no time to wait,” Mihajlović added. Serbia can attract much more investment and become a mecca for renewable energy sources, the deputy prime minister claimed. “In the following period, we will see the inclusion of the private sector, which is what hurts many people in our country. I think that without the creation of conditions for much more private investments in energy, above all renewables, our energy sector wouldn’t have a future,” Mihajlović stated.
Our NBA member, Mrs. Neda Lazendić, General Manager, Emergy/WindVision participated in the panel focused on business
opportunities, upside as well as challenges, in the Serbian power market. Her view is very optimistic and hopeful about new legislation, and country’s commitment to improvement in the energy mix.
The three panels held as part of the conference, discussed carbon taxation, possibilities for businesses on the Serbian power market, and how companies can secure stable and inexpensive electricity supply and decarbonize their business.
