Members of the Croatian government headed by the Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, visited the 35/10 kV Stari Grad substation on the island of Hvar. Reconstruction and power increase activities have been conducted on that electric power facility. The representatives of Hrvatska elektroprivreda introduced the Government members with HEP Group’s planned investments into electric power grid by 2021, totalling at almost HRK 6 billion.
By 2021 HEP Group shall invest around HRK 1.2 billion into the electric power grid and renewable energy sources in the Croatian coastal area and on the islands.
“It is particularly interesting that out of the announced investment of HRK 6 billion by Hrvatska elektroprivreda, HRK 60 million shall be invested into the island of Hvar in the following three years. We consider this a very good, new investment cycle of Hrvatska elektropriveda. Electricity supply shall thus be ensured on the island for the whole year, and there shall be sufficient electricity during the tourist season”, said Andrej Plenković, the Prime Minister.
In the period between 2018 and 2021 HEP Group shall invest around HRK 4 billion into distribution network and more than HRK 1.8 billion into transmission network, which shall enable the safety of supply of the existing and future customers throughout Croatia. HEP shall realize planned investments mostly by hiring national companies, thus confirming its catalyst, synergistic role in the Croatian economy.
“By 2021 HEP Group shall invest around HRK 1.2 billion into electric power grid and renewable energy sources in the coastal area and on the islands, HRK 800 million of which shall be invested into distribution network. In this way we shall directly contribute to further success of Croatian tourism and to creating better living and working conditions for the island population”, said Frane Barbarić, President of the Management Board of Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d. He added that HEP was planning to invest the total of HRK 2 billion into the distribution network in the coastal areas by 2028.
The total value of Stari Grad substation’s reconstruction amounts to HRK 3.5 million and it shall increase its nominal power from 2x8 MW onto 2x16 MW, which shall enable the connection of new consumers and tourist zones on that part of Hvar Island. Construction works shall be completed by the beginning of 2019, so the substation shall operate at full capacity before the beginning of 2019 tourist season.
Planned investments of HEP Operatod distribucijskog sustava (HEP ODS) on the island of Hvar in the following three years total at more than HRK 60 million, and along with the reconstruction of Stari Grad substation they include the reconstruction of electric distribution network in the SE part of the island, the construction of a distribution part of the 110/10(20) kV Hvar substation, the construction of TS 35/10(20) Bogomolje substation and the laying of 12 kilometre-long 35 kV submarine cable Podgora – Pogorila, the island of Hvar.
Laying that cable is a part of HEP ODS’s program to lay 33 km of submarine cables by 2021, which is of great importance for the safety of supply on Adriatic islands, with the total worth of HRK 43 million. Another HRK 339 million shall be invested by the Croatian transmission system operator to exchange high-voltage submarine cables. In the following ten years HEP ODS shall invest the total of HRK 200 million into laying submarine cables.
Along with investing into grid and in line with the strategic plans of the Croatian government targeting at creating conditions for a sustainable development of Croatian islands, HEP has been planning to build a 10 MW solar power plant on the island of Pag, which shall contribute to achieving a high level of electric power self-sufficiency of the island.
