The implementation of energy measures at all levels marked the year behind us. The business sector is a significant factor of the entire society, which is why companies’ adaptation to the existing energy crisis was on the list of priority issues. The Association for Energy and Mining, an organizational unit within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS), was one of the bodies that provided support in that process. We spoke about this with Ljubinko Savić, the Association’s Secretary.
When there is an energy crisis and disrupted energy flows, companies are forced to turn, as our interlocutor states, first of all, to energy-saving opportunities at the company level and then to energy sources that are easily available, affordable and stable.
PKS reacted very quickly to the new circumstances and helped its members to report problems through having a specialized information centre where companies could obtain information about key issues related to doing business with companies from the Russian Federation and Ukraine, find new supply or export markets and connect to potential new partners. At the same time, PKS worked on connecting companies on the domestic market, promoting, and educating about alternative energy sources, competencies of the Serbian economy, green technologies, circular economy principles, decarbonization process and fair transition. Significant cooperation was also with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and relevant ministries.
IN FOCUS:
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY FACTOR WHEN BUYING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES IN SERBIA
- ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SERBIA
- ROAD TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY THAT MUST BE TAKEN
In 2022, the Association held a series of workshops that provided companies with all the necessary information and brought them closer to the buyer-producer instrument.
“We held some of the workshops independently, with the chamber system’s resources, and some in cooperation with the USAID Better Energy programme. Another important activity we carried out was familiarizing energy and industrial companies with the announced protective mechanism of cross-border CO2 taxation, the so-called CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) and the related ETS CO2 trading system. It is a novelty for our industrial enterprises. Energy companies are familiar with this, but not in-depth, so we will engage more in this activity in the future too. The CBAM mechanism is essential for our companies that are export-oriented and connected to the supply chain of European chains of producers, so they must receive the correct and timely information and be ready when the time for the full implementation of this mechanism in Europe comes”, says Mr Savić.
Speaking about the success of implementing energy efficiency measures within various economic activities, Mr Savić presented the very diverse results of research conducted in November last year. On the one hand, some companies are highly aware of the importance of a new, sustainable economic model based on green economy principles. These companies are aware of the energy transition. From the very beginning, they use energy-efficient materials, base production on BAT technologies, integrate RES, and treat waste as a potential for added value and not as a surplus to be thrown away. Such companies have formed teams to implement energy efficiency measures, appointed a person in charge, conducted employee training, and some have an energy manager.
However, a large number of companies do not have organized management of energy and energy consumption but can partly replace the current electricity consumption with some other type of energy. The companies point out that this is a long-term investment that requires significant funds and depends on the type of existing devices and equipment and the features of the buildings in which their production systems are located.
The energy crisis prompted the necessity of introducing the Strategic Energy Management System (SEM) in energy-intensive enterprises and facilities with high consumption of final energy. The Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy stipulates the activities, procedures and resources needed to achieve the energy efficiency goals in the company’s policy.
The Association for Energy and Mining acts in the context of the Chamber’s overall work, and its activities are often related and directed towards fulfilling expressed needs and protecting the interests of the entire economy. The working model set up in this way has resulted in the Association providing members for several working groups that have been drafting important strategic energy documents and preparing draft laws and other regulations important for energy subjects and energy as an economic branch.
Furthermore, the Association held training sessions for businesses that want to integrate RES into their business models and several thematic meetings dedicated to connecting new electricity production facilities to the power grid. The Association also researched the application of energy efficiency measures in industry and participated in developing a study of the oil derivatives market in the Republic of Serbia.
In 2023, new strategic documents should be adopted, and certain energy regulations will be amended, with planned public hearings about them. According to our interlocutor, they hope to work with the Government and the Ministry of Mining and Energy on this. Holding seminars for businesses on electricity production from RES for needs will continue in the remaining 10 regional chambers. The implementation of a new training programme on energy efficiency in industrial processes is also being prepared, which will be adapted to individual industrial branches.
Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac
Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ENERGETIC EFFICIENCY
