Serbia’s capital Belgrade has launched a tender for exploratory geothermal drilling at the New Belgrade and Miljakovac heating plants operated by Beogradske Elektrane. The programme is intended to shift from geological assessment to on-site testing of potential geothermal resources for the city’s district-heating system. The drilling initiative is structured as the third stage of the utility’s geothermal effort.
Sites selected for geothermal integration into district heating
The two locations, New Belgrade and Miljakovac, were identified as having the strongest technical and economic potential for integrating geothermal energy into Belgrade’s district-heating network. The tender covers exploratory drilling at both heating plants. This selection follows earlier work focused on assessing geothermal prospects.
Scope of exploratory wells and subsurface measurements
The planned exploratory wells will evaluate the temperature, volume and availability of underground water. The findings will be compared with existing geological models. Temperature and geothermal-gradient measurements are scheduled at 50-metre intervals throughout the drilling process.
The contractor will also examine rock formations, drilling fluids and gases for indications of groundwater inflows. Laboratory testing will analyse the geological characteristics of the Mesozoic and Neogene formations encountered at the two sites. These steps are part of determining whether the resource can support practical use.
Third stage of Belgrade’s geothermal initiative
The drilling programme represents the third stage of Belgrade’s geothermal initiative. Earlier phases focused on geological modelling, resource assessment and technical analysis. The current stage is intended to establish whether identified geothermal resources are suitable for use in the district-heating system.
Commercial viability criteria and bidding deadline
If commercially viable resources are confirmed, geothermal heat could reduce reliance on fossil fuels in district heating and limit exposure to gas-price volatility while lowering emissions. Investment feasibility would depend on factors including the temperature and sustainable flow rate of the geothermal water. It would also depend on the cost of integrating the resource with existing heating infrastructure.
Companies have until October 19 to submit bids for the exploratory drilling tender. The results are expected to provide a basis for determining whether geothermal energy can progress beyond a diversification concept and become an investable component of Belgrade’s district-heating system.