Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS; Yokohama, Japan; www.mhps.com) signed a supply contract for the first fluegas desulfurization (FGD) system in the West Balkans for Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant, located in the Republic of Srpska — one of the two constituent entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The FGD construction project for Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant was preceded under a Japanese ODA loan to reduce sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that pollute the air, which will improve the environment, protect the health of residents in the area, and contribute toward achieving the environmental standards required for joining the E.U. in the future. The plant is scheduled to start commercial operations in July 2019.
For this project, MHPS, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe GmbH (MHPS-EDE, Duisburg, Germany; www.eu.mhps.com) and RUDIS d.o.o. (Slovenia) formed a consortium and received the order from Elekroprivreda of Republika Srpska. The FGD plant will be installed in Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant, which has a capacity of approximately 300 MW, equal to one-fourth of the total electrical generation capacity for Republika Srpska.
In the Ugljevik project, MHPS is responsible for basic engineering and delivery of the main components, MHPS-EDE for delivery of components procured in Europe, and Rudis for civil and installation works including permitting at the jobsite.
Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant started commercial operations in 1985 and emits high levels of sulfur dioxide because it uses lignite coal, which contains high sulfur content and has a low heat generation rate. Installation of the FGD plant will enable reductions of 99% of sulfur dioxide and achieve a sulfur dioxide level lower than 200 mg/Nm3, which complies with the European “Industrial Emission Directive” (IED).