CONCRETE LINING ON MAIN INTAKE TUNNEL OF THE DABAR HPP COMPLETED

NEVESINJE, OCTOBER 26 /SRNA/ – Concrete lining work on the main intake tunnel of the Dabar Hydropower Plant, measuring 12,125 metres in length, has been completed; the works are valued at approximately EUR 90 million.

Luka Petrović, Director General of Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske /Republika Srpak Power Industry/, said this is the largest construction project in the field of hydropower in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

“Following the completion of these works, we can hand the tunnel over to the Chinese contractors, who are responsible under the contract for bringing it into full operation,” Petrović told the press during a tour of the tunnel.

Danilo Ilić, Director of the Dabar Hydropower Plant, said this is the project as an outstanding achievement by ERS and the result of teamwork involving all parties, including the contractors, the Republike Srpske Government, Republike Srpske president and the local communities.

Ilić explained that the tunnel connects Nevesinje Field with the surge tank of the future hydropower plant.

According to him, a gate system equipped with automation and hydromechanical equipment had also been installed, while tunnel cleaning and the asphalting of access roads remained to be completed.

Work on the other facilities of the Dabar Hydropower Plant is continuing under a separate contract with the Chinese Gezhouba Group, he said.

He noted that around 70 Chinese workers were currently working on the surge tank and completing excavation works, with additional workers expected to be assigned to other facilities soon.

Ljubiša Pilipović, the project director for the hydropower plant’s intake tunnel on behalf of Integral Inženjering, said the project had been extremely demanding, with significant challenges on a daily basis, but that the team was proud to have completed it.

According to him, only the finishing works remain, after which the tunnel will be handed over to the investor and subsequently put into use, making it available to Republika Srpska.

Maja Praštalo, owner of the Integral Inženjering construction company, told the press that the project was significant for the company and that it was important for a local company to have successfully completed the work.