Ugljevik power plant drops off the grid again as a boiler tube bursts days after restart

The Ugljevik thermal power plant, part of the Mine and Thermal Power Plant (RiTE) Ugljevik within the Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) group, went offline in the early hours of 5 November because of a fault in the boiler plant. RiTE director Žarko Novaković confirmed the shutdown to the Capital portal and the daily Glas Srpske. According to a confirmation obtained by ATV television, the unit went out of operation at 5:48 “due to a burst tube in the boiler”.

How long repairs will take. “The fault will be repaired within 48 to 72 hours. At least 24 hours are needed for the plant to cool down so that repairs can begin,” Novaković told Capital, adding that the cause is most likely wear and tear. After the repair, the plant will run as long as coal stocks last, which are currently at a minimum. Mikica Lukić, executive director for corporate affairs, told Nezavisne novine that such faults “have been happening for decades”.

The coal problem. According to Lukić, coal is being bought in limited quantities, and bad weather in recent days has hampered work at the company’s own mine and the transport of coal bought from Prijedor. Capital and Srpskainfo report that experts have warned about the quality of coal from the Bukova Kosa deposit, supplied by the Teslić-based firm Drvo-Eksport; Novaković declined to comment on the issue. The daily Avaz writes that plant workers have also voiced concern about the quality of the fuel.

Context. According to Srpskainfo, the plant had resumed production on 27 October. Also on 5 November, the Government of Republika Srpska approved a state guarantee for an 18 million KM bank loan to RiTE Ugljevik, intended for a capital investment.

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