EURELECTRIC members show solidarity following devastating Balkan floods

Following the disastrous floods and landslides in the Balkans in May, which led to the destruction of whole towns and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, EURELECTRIC members have shown their solidarity by offering material and equipment to their counterparts in the region. The emergency response, coordinated by the Energy Community, saw EURELECTRIC distribution system operators (DSOs) commit to providing transformers, cables and other equipment to restore the distribution systems that supply electricity to key public services and households.

The scale of the destruction is reflected in tens of thousands of meters damaged beyond repair, wrecked transformers and respective ancillary equipment, conductors and overhead lines, including complete destruction of spare parts and material in drowned warehouses.

The gravity of the situation provoked a fast, non-bureaucratic response from EURELECTRIC, who asked its members to support network operators in the region in restoring the system to prevent further devastating consequences for population and economies. DSOs from across Europe responded, with the following result:

1. ENDESA Distribution, Spain: of 18 transformers made available, 17 transformers designated to Bosnia and Herzegovina, seven for Elektroprivreda Bosne i Herzegovine and ten for Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske;
2. HEDNO, Greece: of 5 transformers, cables and conductors made available,  2 transformers cables and conductors  designated to Elektroprivreda Srbije;
3. EVN, Bulgaria: of 10.000 available meters made available, 776 meters designated to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Komunalno Brčko;
4. Netzburgenland, Austria: of 30 transformers, 20 switchgears, 50 rod isolators, OH conductors and cables made available, 4 switchgears are designated to Serbia for Elektroprivreda Srbije,  500m OH conductors and 1500 LV cables to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Komunalno Brčko;
5. Rhein Energie, Germany, of 25 transformers made available, 8 were found compatible in Komunalno Brčko and Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske;
6. Thüringer Energie, Germany: of 20 transformers and 4 sets of convertors made available, all transformers are designated to Bosnia and Herzegovina to Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske and Komunalno Brčko;
7. SET Distribuzione, Italy: of 5 power transformers made available, two designated to Elektroprivreda Srbije;
8. ELMU Net, Hungary: of 3 power transformers, MV and LV cables and ABC cables made available, all designated to Elektroprivreda Srbije;
9. EDF Demasz, Hungary: of 3 power transformers and 50 meter cabinets made available, two power transformers  designated to Elektroprivreda Srbije;
10. E.on Elnat, Sweden: of 14 000 meters and 4200 power and voltage transformers made available, 12 256 meters are designated to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske, transformers (the number subject to further clarification of compatibility) to Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske  and to Komunalno Brčko in Bosnia and Herzegovina.