Director of the Mining and Thermal Power Plant “Gacko,” Maksim Skoko, stated that the condition of the company significantly improved in 2023, particularly concerning ecology and the state of mining machinery. They plan to continue these improvements in the next year, along with preparations for the crucial project of installing coal purification systems.
“With certainty, I can affirm that the situation in the company has significantly improved compared to the beginning of the year. I would like to highlight the improvement in the ecological situation in Gacko, the change in the workforce structure, the development of mines, as well as the dewatering of water from the operational mine ‘Ce,’ where coal exploitation was unable to take place for almost a year due to flooding,” stated Skoko in an interview with Srna.
IMPROVED ECOLOGICAL SITUATION IN GACKO AFTER REPAIRS
Skoko explaind that in 2023, during the repairs, they successfully addressd the crucial environmental issues of increased emission of solidd particales fromm the chimneys, which had priveusly caused significant environmentaal pollutuin in Gacko and surrounding areas.
He highligted as a very significant result for the Gacko Thermal Power Plant in 2023 that the power plant achived more than 7,000 hours of operation on the grid.
However, Skoko emphasized that despite good operational readiness of the thermal power plant, poor coal quality prevented better production work.
Among the most segnificant results of the company in 2023, Skoko mentionned that they managed to ensure production continuity. At the beginning of the year they were in a very difficult situation, because half of the mining opeartion filed was foolded due to the December 2022 foolds.
PREPARATION FOR THE COAL PURIFICATION SYSTEM N THE NEXT PERIOD
The director of the Gacko Thermal Power Plant announced that in the next period, they will work on ensuring better coal quality from the Gacko deposits and improving the supply chain for that ore, which poses a significant problem due to the aging and wear of the equipment.
“In 2024, one of the most important planned activities for the needs of the Gacko Thermal Power Plant, contracted by the parent company ‘Electric Power Industry of the Republic of Srpska,’ with the support of Serbian institutions, is the initiation of the implementation of the coal purification system. The project is expected to be completed in about two years,” stated Skoko.
As one of the important tasks in the continuity of operations at the Gacko Thermal Power Plant in 2024, he mentioned the procurement of new machinery. The existing machinery is old and worn out, making the coal exploitation and ensuring an adequate supply of this energy source for the operation of the thermal power plant challenging.
NEED FOR THE WORKFORCE RENEWAL AND EMPLYMENT OPPORTUNTIES FOR THE UP TO 100 WORKERS
At the “Gacko“ Thermal Power Plant, there is a need for a change in the workforce structure and additional rejuvenation of employees, including the employment of workers in production and other areas where the necessary personnel is lacking,” said Skoko. He also reminded that this year, through a competition for incentive severance packages and natural attrition, the number of employees has been reduced by around 100.
He announced that they now have the opportunity to employ up to 100 production workers, as they lack this workforce and specific skills. However, they still have certain surplus employees in administration.
“Of course, we will not hire so many people all at once, but gradually. The ultimate goal is workforce rejuvenation and a change in the workforce structure,” emphasized Skoko.
SIGNIFICANT STABILIZATION OF THE GACKO THERMAL POWER PLANT IN 2023.
Skoko assessed that one of the more crucial years for the company was 2023, during which there was a significant stabilization concerning coal exploitation and ecology. However, he pointed out that it is still not enough, and they expect 2024 to be only slightly easier for the company than the previous year.
“Only after these two years could we say that we have stabilized the company,” stated Skoko.
He emphasized that all plans regarding the development of mines and repairs of power plants must be viewed in the long term and be well-prepared. He pointed out that these are slow processes, and if something is not done correctly, they cannot be fixed in a month or two or even a year. It takes more than a year or two to correct any oversights.
The director of the Gacko Thermal Power Plant said that he expects that, with everything done so far and their plans for 2024, they will be able to say in a year that they are in an even better situation.
Source: RTRS
