EPS: Electric power system stable, protection a priority

BELGRADE - The system of the Serbian electric power company (EPS) is stable despite a natural disaster unprecedented in Serbia in the past 100 years, the company said on Thursday, adding that protection of staff and equipment is its priority.

The EPS has set up crisis management headquarters and introduced emergency shifts in all parts of the system, the company's acting director Aleksandar Obradovic said after visiting the flooded area of the Kolubara coal mine.

"The EPS is making efforts to ensure that there are as few disruptions of electricity supplies as possible, and the areas of Lazarevac, Valjevo, Loznica and Sabac (western Serbia) are where the situation is the most critical," Obradovic said.

"The situation is changing by the minute, the conditions are worsening and we expect the biggest flood wave to arrive in the evening. Consumers are being switched off the grid for safety reasons and malfunctions are fixed as soon as possible," Obradovic said.

Due to the extreme weather conditions and floods, all surface mining operations at the Kolubara mine and Kolubara Processing have been halted, as have coal supplies to the Nikola Tesla power plant, which is now relying on stock depots.

The situation at the Kolubara mine will remain critical in the coming days due to the danger of the ground caving in, the EPS said in a statement.

Due to the high level of the Drina river, the water has been allowed to overflow at the Bajina Basta, Zvornik, Potpec and Elektromorava hydropower plants.

The situation at the Djerdap hydropower plant on the Danube is under control, engines are working according to plan and there is no danger of flooding.