On October 14, 2024, the Belgrade Fair opened the gates of two significant fair events – the 19th International Energy Fair and the 20th International Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Fair EcoFair.
Until October 16, in Hall 3 of the Belgrade Fair, and under the unique slogan “The message is in nature”, more than 50 domestic and foreign exhibitors from a dozen countries will deal with the issues of these vitally important issues for all of humanity.
Experts, businesses, companies, organizations, investors and decision-makers from different sectors of the energy industry will strive to present the latest achievements in that industry, connect professionals from the sector, educate visitors on energy topics and promote sustainable energy practices. And the other side of the energy coin, the environmental one, plays an increasingly significant, often crucial, role in the design and development of new energy sources. In light of climate change and increasingly stringent regulations, sustainability is becoming a key criterion in the selection of technologies and approaches for energy production.
During the opening ceremony of this unique fair manifestation, State Secretary in the Ministry of Mining and Energy Stefan Srbljanović reminded that the energy tradition “is a process that concerns all of us who manage the energy sector, companies from the public and private sector, investors, civil society organizations, all citizens and consumers”.
Energy efficiency is one of the most important goals and priorities of this ministry.
“This year, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Integral National Plan for Climate and Energy, which implies a significant increase in energy efficiency.”
The Ministry allocated 800 million dinars, twice as much as in 2023, for the energy renovation of kindergartens and preschool institutions, primary and secondary schools, faculties, libraries, centers of culture, health institutions, municipal administration buildings, reconstruction of public lighting in 41 municipalities or cities. Among them is the Faculty of Chemistry, 20 schools and kindergartens throughout Serbia, KBC “Dragiša Mišović”.
In order to reduce consumption and switch to charging for thermal energy according to consumption, more than 500 residential buildings with a district heating system were renovated in 14 local self-government units, with an area of about one million square meters, and the total value of the project is 64.5 million euros. Priority is given to buildings that can save the most, and our estimate is that the savings will reach 35%.
Work is also underway on the renovation of 28 central government buildings.
We motivate citizens to use energy more rationally, reduce their bills and contribute to their budget. With the support and subsidies of the state, more than 30 thousand households have improved energy efficiency in their households. The plan is for that number to reach 70,000 family households by 2027.
Socially disadvantaged citizens are also supported with subsidies for electricity, gas, and heating. They can still apply in their municipalities and get these benefits.
We also improved the legislative framework and secured investments in renewable energy sources. More than 700 MW of new capacity, more than one billion euros of investment. This means nine new “green” power plants, but also new jobs, higher GDP and impact on the construction industry. Today we have around 3800 prosumers with a capacity of 74 MW, and just two years ago that number was 9.5 times smaller.
Record investments were also realized in the distribution system. We continue to replace meters with new digital meters for which financial resources have been secured. In one year, more than half a million households received new digital meters.
For the next ten years, investments of around 15 billion euros will be needed, including the construction of reversible hydroelectric power plants, wind and solar power plants, new gas interconnections and gas storage and oil pipelines.
Ivana Hadži Stošić, State Secretary in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, emphasized that this event is very important, because it connects actors from different sectors from the Republic of Serbia and abroad, their experiences and “good practice”.
“In the last four years, the Ministry has taken a significant step for the better.”
In connection with the biggest problem, waste management, we are rapidly working on the design of regional centers for waste management. Work is currently underway on the construction of a regional recycling center in the village of Kalenić in the municipality of Ub, which will serve 15 local self-government units. Works are underway in Pirot, and are planned for Užice by the end of the year. It is planned to build nine such centers by 2027.
This “green” infrastructure is a prerequisite for increasing the recycling rate, thereby closing sanitary and wild landfills throughout Serbia.
Through the “Odvajamo” project, in cooperation with partners from the EU, 17 local governments received 26 garbage trucks, over 87,000 bins, and over 2,500 containers. In these municipalities, we introduced primary waste separation already in households.
We also care about infrastructure. We are currently building over 340 km of sewage networks and several wastewater treatment plants.
In the air quality improvement sector, through public tenders, significant funds were allocated for the replacement of public boiler rooms in heating plants and public institutions, as well as individual fireplaces in households.
We supported the projects of removing illegal landfills, soil protection, afforestation and greening, and the purchase of new electric vehicles.
And this fair manifestation is an important support for us, because we bring environmental topics and examples of good practice closer to citizens and encourage them to be active in environmental protection.
The energy and ecology fairs are accompanied by a corresponding professional program.
SERVICE INFORMATION
The energy and ecology fairs are held from October 14 to 16, 2024, and the working hours of the fairs are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An individual ticket costs 500 dinars, a group ticket costs 300 dinars, and parking in the fair grounds costs 200 dinars per hour.