Hidroelektrana Dabar has selected AF-Consult Switzerland as the technical advisor in the awarding of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the 160 MW Dabar hydropower plant (HPP Dabar). Deloitte d.o.o. in Belgrade, Serbia and law firm Moravčević, Vojnović i Partneri AOD are also part of the team to provide financial and legal services for the company. 

The contract which would be governed by the public-private partnership (PPP) law, has attracted 19 expressions of interest (EOI) from companies in China, the U.S., Spain, Turkey, France, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The private partner will develop the remaining US$227.3 million facility in HPP Dabar. 

Under the preferred financial model, Hidroelektrana Dabar’s future project partner would secure a loan to cover at least 85% of the project cost against a guarantee from the Republika Srpska government. The loan would be repaid in cash or electricity over 15 years, following a 4-year grace period. The interest rate would be at around 3%, according to the text of the invitation.

Hidroelektrana Dabar operates as part of Hidroelektrane na Trebišnjici (HET), a subsidiary of power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS).

The consortium of consultants will be paid BAM 1,897,155.10 (US$1.1 million).