Taraba: State to Support Gabcikovo and State-run Heating Plants with €125 mn

Bratislava, 11 December (TASR) - Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) held a joint news conference on Thursday to announce the provision of financial support for investment projects that will bring safe and stable electricity supplies from renewable energy sources and modernise heating networks for urban populations. A total of €125 million from the Modernisation Fund will be distributed among 11 investment projects to increase the share of renewable energy in heat and electricity production and to modernise the Gabcikovo Waterworks and heat distribution networks. Taraba views it as important that the state is investing millions of euros in modernising electricity production from sources other than state budget money. "I'm very pleased that money from the Modernisation Fund is heading to support meaningful investments in the modernisation and use of stable and safe renewable energy sources, large hydro-electric power plants, and the important renovation of heating distribution networks in several Slovak towns and cities. Each of the approved projects will bring more energy efficiency, contribute to better air quality and allow investors to use resources for activities that will bring real results and energy savings," stressed Taraba. A total of €42 million will go on projects to be implemented by state-run water management construction company Vodohospodarska Vystavba. The money is intended for innovating and modernising the Gabcikovo waterworks and the Cunovo Hydro-power Plant. For both hydro-power facilities, this involves the innovation and modernisation of their electrical and mechanical-technological parts. Modernisation will make electricity production more efficient, improve operational reliability and safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extend the service life of the hydro-power facilities by at least 35 more years. "Modernising energy production and strengthening energy infrastructure will be key for Slovakia in the upcoming years. We expect that by 2050, electricity consumption in Slovakia will double or triple due to the development of electro-mobility, digitalisation, data centres and the gradual decarbonisation of industry. To be able to meet these growing demands, there's a need to strengthen our energy security and diversify heat and electricity production. Although nuclear energy forms the basis of the Slovak energy mix, we must develop this mix by a suitable combination of renewable sources and by making our heating plants and modernising networks more efficient," said Sakova. From the so-called hybrid call, €48 million will go to five projects run by MH Teplarensky Holding, a company under the Economy Ministry's remit, specifically to make heat production in Zvolen (Banska Bystrica region), Zilina, Martin (Zilina region), Trnava and Bratislava more efficient. An additional four projects of the state-run holding worth €35 million will support safe and stable electricity supplies from renewable sources in Humenne (Presov region), Martin, Bratislava and Zilina. ko/df