Systemic changes necessary for better defense against natural disasters
On the second day of International Conference "Power Plants 2014" roundtable was organized, which was dedicated to the impact of extreme rainfall and floods to the operation of production facilities and distribution of energy in PE EPS. On this occasion two presentations were held and are four films were shown about the consequences floods have had on electric power facilities of Serbian electric power industry. Roundtable participants had the opportunity to see thirty-minute film made by Department of Public Relations and informing of CE TENT in which, through the testimony of actors, there was given a chronology of events during floods and the consequences it had for all of five branches of the company.
During discussion that followed, participants tried to come up with an answer to the question which systemic changes need to be done in order to prevent similar events.
- EPS timely responded by forming a team for emergency situations which is still operational and is in constant contact with the companies that were affected by floods, said Zoran Bozovic, director of Department for energy production of PE EPS. He pointed out that, when everything is added up, direct damage from floods in PE EPS is about 480 million EUR.
Dragan Popovic, chairman of the roundtable, said that due to difficult transportation of coal from Kolubara mine, TENT recently issued a tender for the supply of coal, and that it will be necessary to obtain a million and a half tons of coal for electricity production. He also pointed out that the production facilities of EPS, despite the difficulties caused by floods, are in satisfactory conditions, so that the import of electricity so far has been less than expected, which was also influenced by extraordinary water flows into Danube, unprecedented so far in this period.
At the end, participants suggested several conclusions which will be directed to the authorities, and should help minimize consequences of new natural disasters. In the conclusions presented by Vojislav Skundric, one of the chairmen of the roundtable, it was noted that the entire staff of EPS was up to the task in these difficult circumstances and that with their knowledge, skills and commitment they helped prevent serious consequences, and that there was not human victims. Furthermore, it was concluded that it is necessary to check conditions of all facilities and their protection systems in terms of floods, then to take measures to prepare a defense against natural disasters, to improve communication system, as well as to restore system of civil protection. Finally, it was concluded that it is necessary to change certain administrative procedures to ensure that, in future similar situations, repair of damaged buildings can be performed as soon as possible.
After completion of work on the second day of the conference, organizer hosted an appropriate cultural program in which the CAS "Prvi partizan" from Uzice, performed combination of songs and dances from Serbia.
(Thursday, 30 October 2014)