On Tuesday the 23rd of November, in Hall 2 of the Belgrade Fair, the ceremonial opening of three traditional fairs of international rank was held: the 16th International Energy Fair, the 17th International Fair of Environmental and Natural Resource Protection – EcoFair and the 42nd International Fair of Prevention and Emergency Response and Safety at Work – 112 Expo.
On the occasion of the opening of the Energy Fair, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Mining and Energy Prof Dr. Zorana Mihajlovic has stated, that the year 2021 is a tipping point in the energy sector, regarding the fact that Serbia has joined the energy transition, and that it wishes to become the regional leader in that process, and for energy to become the initiator of growth and development of the economy as a whole.
“This fair is significant because we must do everything we can to protect nature, to ensure energy safety, to connect the private and public sector, and to make a huge step towards energy transition, in this time of COVID-19 virus pandemic. There is no more significant topic in the world today, nor in Serbia, than energy safety and battle against climate change, from the question of how to have enough energy, and to secure it in a sustainable way.”
“The year 2021 is very important for Serbia, because it presents a tipping point in the energy sector, because this year we are truly engaging in green energy transition that most countries have already embarked on. Serbia should be a part of that “green revolution train”, so that we are able to have enough energy, sustainable prices, in the upcoming decades, and all that with constant improvement of the environment. We have already made the first steps. We have passed new laws, in order to encourage new investments which we didn’t have for the past 30 years, the time passed since the last big thermal power plant or hydroelectric power plant was build.”
“We started drafting main strategic documents, the integrated energy and climate plan of Serbia for the period up to 2030, with projections up to 2050 as well as strategies of energy development of Serbia for the period up to 2040, with projections up to 2050. We have also made a new investment plan, which predicts the construction of large and medium hydroelectric power plants, new energy production capacities from OIE, the construction of gas power plants, additional energy storage capacities, as well as the development of hydrogen techniques”, said the Deputy Prime Minister.
She emphasized that the investments in energy will enhance significantly energy efficiency, given the fact that Serbia today spends four time more energy than the EU average, and that the OIE share will by 2040 be at least 40 percent and that the implementation of all planned projects will decrease the annual CO2 emission for approximately 23 million tons, from the 53 million tons as it was in 2019.
“The Green agenda is a generational question and a question of contribution of us all. The state will set a framework, set goals, secure investment money for big capacities, set aside even more money for co-financing of household energy efficiency enhancement and for solar panels installation. The Green Agenda gives unlimited possibilities for development, for engagement of collages, institutes, engineers and other experts which would be working on state of the art technologies and would be taking part in shaping the energy future of Serbia.”
In the end, Mihajlovic has invited the local self-governments and citizens to apply for new public calls to increase energy efficiency and install solar panels that the Government and the Ministry will announce at the begging of 2022.
Prof Dr. Darija Kisic Tepavcevic, Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, reminded that “we live in a time when prevention is the key word” at the opening ceremony of EcoFair.
“That is the word, which is the baseline of progress. Prevention of illness, violence, as well as taking all measures and activities aimed at occupational injury prevention”, stated Minister Kisic Tepavcevic.
She announced that the new Law of Labor will highlight that subject, so that we would get the most modern standard in this area.
Sandra Dokic, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, opening 112 expo stated that the primary areas of the Ministry of Environmental Protection are the reduction of air pollution, construction of wastewater treatment plants as well as sewer networks and the construction of modern regional recycling centers and the solution of the decades long problem of historical waste.
“The Green projects that we are implementing are completely in synch with the goal to which Serbia is completely dedicated, and that is the Western Balkans green agenda”, said Dokic highlighting that “circular economy plan is being drafted, in order to create the conditions to switch to this type of business, which will enable the efficient use of resources and energy in order to achieve a sustainable development of the country.”
The three guests were unanimous in the assessment that the connection between the energy, ecological and protective basis of the social community is one of the most important issues of the country and the region.
The Energy Fair is a respectable fair event with a UFI license, the largest annual gathering of companies, corporations, entrepreneurships, institutions and professionals in all energy sectors and the integrator of all segments and factors of the energy sector in the region and in this part of Europe.
The program backbone of the fair consists of production and exploitation, enrichment, distribution, transport, storage or direct usage of the existing and potential natural resources and energy sources, but also scientific research, smart technology, energy saving, energy efficiency, educational support and other areas which are a part of the energy foundation and a trigger of the entire economic and public life of the country and the region.
In the sense of current capital projects in the sector of gas, revitalizations and restructurings of capacity in the sectors of fossil fuels, this representative specialized exhibition, this year especially emphasizes renewable energy sources and the improvement of energy efficiency.
The patron of the Energy Fair is the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia.
With this year’s recommendation that ecologically acceptable behavior becomes a way of life, ECOFAIR is dedicated to systems and mechanisms of environmental protection with a special accent on “circular” and “green” economy, the recycling industry, waste management, utility technologies, protection of nature and protection of natural resources from pollution.
This Fair’s agenda accents are on financing and managing projects in the sector of environmental protection, investment projects and waste management, purification and management of Wastewater of Serbia, industrial safety. Ranges of domestic legislation is a special segment of the event (with capital financial effects), because as much as 30% of the normative part of the negotiation process towards the European Union refers to environmental issues.
The patron of the Ecology Fair is the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia.
112 EXPO presents the presentation of all social and economic potentials intended to oppose unpredictable and unexpected emergency events and emergency situations which endanger human lives and property. It deals with prevention and protection of humans and property from natural disasters and human negligence, also safety and health at work and emergency medical care.
It’s about, among other things, specialized firefighting and rescue vehicles and detection devices, fire extinguishers and rescue devices, emergency response apparatus and equipment, measuring and detection in case of technological accidents, rescue gear, workplace and product safety. The exhibitors dedicate a special place to devices and equipment for personal and collective protection at work.
The patron of this event is the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
SERVICE INFORMATION
Working hours of the fairs is from Tuesday the 23rd of November to Thursday the 25th of November, from 10am to 5pm.
The entry is free.
Parking within the fair is charged 150 dinars per hour.
Exhibitors and visitors are obliged to adhere to current epidemiological measures.
