OREANDA-NEWS  "Gazprom energoholding" have taken the first real attempt of entering the energy market in Europe: together with controlled by "Gazprom" Serbian NIS, the company began construction of a new thermal power plant (TPP) of 200 MW in Serbia. It will supply energy to Gazprom Neft's refining assets in the country. The GEF is thinking about the construction of three or four more gas stations in Serbia, these plans will be linked to the construction of the Turkish stream gas pipeline.

The joint venture of Gazprom energoholding and NIS (51% and 49% in the joint venture, respectively) began to build 200 MW of gas generation in the Serbian Pancevo. First of all, the TPP will supply heat and electricity to the refinery in Pancevo owned by NIS, the rest of the production will go to the market.

Gazprom has repeatedly stated its intention to enter foreign markets, but so far all attempts have been unsuccessful. The company had only one foreign asset — Kaunas TPP in Lithuania, which company sold in 2013 due to the lack of tariff solutions. Last year "Gazprom" has approved the new strategy in the electricity sector in the years 2018-2027, laying in her plans to enter foreign markets.

The cost of the project in Panchevo is €180 million, the return on investment is 10-12 years, the profitability of the project is 14%, the return is guaranteed by a long — term contract for the supply of heat with NIS, explained to Kommersant the head of Geha Denis Fedorov.

"About 20-30% of financing is provided by the GEF, the rest is project financing of Gazprombank," Mr. Fedorov added. The station is planned to be commissioned in 2020.

The power plant in pančevo is the first combined cycle gas station in Serbia, mainly generating the country (installed capacity up to 9 GW) works on coal. Two Ansaldo gas turbines and one steam turbine will be installed at the TPP.