SOCAR, Serbia’s EPS sign deal to develop gas-fired power plant in Niš

Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) and Serbia’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) have signed a cooperation agreement to develop, construct and operate a gas-fired power plant in the Serbian city of Niš, marking a significant step in efforts to strengthen Serbia’s energy security and diversify its energy mix.

The agreement was signed during Baku Energy Week by EPS Chief Executive Officer Dušan Živković and SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović-Handanović, described the deal as an important milestone in advancing the project, which is expected to support the country’s long-term energy strategy and transition toward a more sustainable energy system.

“The aim is to have new baseload generation capacity with an installed capacity of up to 500 MW on the grid by 2030,” she said.

According to the minister, the project will help enhance Serbia’s energy security while contributing to the diversification of energy sources and the country’s green transition objectives.

Đedović-Handanović also highlighted the growing energy partnership between Serbia and Azerbaijan, noting that cooperation with SOCAR creates opportunities for additional joint initiatives in the future.

She emphasised that the project forms part of EPS’s broader efforts to modernize and diversify its generation portfolio while ensuring a reliable electricity supply for households and businesses.

“The partnership with SOCAR allows us to combine our expertise and resources to deliver a state-of-the-art energy facility that will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Serbia’s electricity system.”

By Sabina Mammadli