Forty-five bids have been submitted for the construction of a new bloc of the Plomin thermal power plant and competent Slovenian bodies have assessed the project positively, Croatian Economy Minister Radimir Cacic told reporters on Friday.
Among the bidders are more than a dozen major companies from Germany, France, Italy, South Korea and other countries, he said, adding that Germany's RWE had been the first bidder.
Cacic said his ministry received from Slovenia's agriculture and environment ministry the final position on the evaluation of the environmental impact of the Plomin reconstruction and that the Slovenian ministry assessed the project positively.
The Slovenians have established that the reconstruction is planned according to the concept of modern, clean technology thermal plants aimed at improving the environmental impact, the minister said.
The Slovenians also think the introduction of new technology can significantly improve the degree of utilisation in comparison to classic thermal plants, and that the Plomin reconstruction is planned in complete accordance with European Union recommendations, he added.
Cacic showed reporters an opinion of the Slovenian Health Protection Institute stating that the reconstruction was acceptable in terms of health protection.
"Everyone who cares about ecology and environmental protection in Croatia should advocate this project for many reasons because it improves the state of the ecology," he said.
Asked if progress had been made with the local community regarding the physical plan, Cacic said intensive negotiations had been under way for months, that the reactions were very positive and that good agreements had been made.
The local community will benefit from such projects, he said.
Croatia's HEP power company invited bids on July 24 for the construction of the 500 megawatt Plomin C coal-based thermal plant, an investment of EUR 800 million. The strategic partner will be chosen in the first quarter of 2013.
