EPS launches €5.2 million tender to ready Serbia’s Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower project

Serbia is pressing ahead with preparations for the HPP Bistrica pumped-storage hydropower project, with state-owned utility EPS launching a public procurement process aimed at assembling the documentation required before construction can begin. For investors and lenders, the step matters because it targets the permits and strategic approvals that can otherwise delay large-scale energy infrastructure.

€5.2 million contract to unlock construction approvals

EPS said the contract is valued at approximately €5.2 million and will cover preparation of a comprehensive set of technical, planning and regulatory documents. The stated objective is to ensure that required permits and strategic approvals are obtained without delays once the construction phase starts.

Dam upgrades, engineering studies and hydraulic modeling

A central element of the assignment is upgrading the Radoinja dam, alongside preliminary and detailed designs intended to support construction approval. The scope also includes extensive technical studies, including geotechnical and seismic analyses, as well as advanced hydraulic modeling for key structures.

Environmental planning for excavated material and watershed stability

The work further includes environmental and spatial planning components, including detailed solutions for designated areas used for disposal of excavated material. EPS noted that this will be supported by full technical documentation, surveys and urban planning frameworks required for permitting.

Additional studies are set to address slope stabilization, regulation of the Kratovska riverbed, and erosion control measures across the broader Bistrica watershed area—measures intended to support long-term environmental and structural stability.

Legal services, permitting support and financing advisory

The tender also incorporates legal and property-related services such as land re-parcellation and expropriation planning, supported by digital tools designed to streamline those processes. In parallel, environmental impact assessments will be prepared for key components to support compliance with national and international regulatory standards.

Beyond engineering and planning deliverables, the selected contractor will provide advisory support for securing financing. EPS said this includes coordination with international lenders such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) while ensuring the project meets their technical and financial requirements.

Bidders have until May 22

The procurement process sets a submission deadline of May 22 for interested bidders, marking another milestone in EPS’s continued development work on the HPP Bistrica project.