Beogradske Elektrane, the district-heating utility in Belgrade, has launched a tender for exploratory geothermal drilling at its New Belgrade and Miljakovac heating plants. The programme is intended to shift from earlier geological assessment activities to on-site testing of potential geothermal resources. The two sites have been selected based on their strongest technical and economic potential for integrating geothermal energy into the city’s district-heating system.
Scope of the exploratory drilling
The planned exploratory wells will be used to assess the temperature, volume and availability of underground water. Findings from the drilling 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 checks are part of the data collection needed to evaluate the geothermal resource potential.
Stage of Belgrade’s geothermal initiative
The drilling programme is described as the third stage of Belgrade’s geothermal initiative. Earlier phases focused on geological modelling, resource assessment and technical analysis. The latest stage is intended to determine whether identified geothermal resources are suitable for practical use in district heating.
If commercially viable resources are confirmed, geothermal heat could reduce reliance on fossil fuels in the district-heating system. It could also limit exposure to gas-price volatility and lower emissions, according to the stated conditions for feasibility. Future investment would depend on factors including the temperature and sustainable flow rate of the geothermal water, as well as the cost of integrating it with existing heating infrastructure.
Tender timeline and expected outcomes
Companies have until October 19 to submit bids for the exploratory drilling tender. The results of the drilling are expected to provide a basis for determining whether geothermal energy can progress beyond a diversification concept. The programme would then support whether geothermal becomes an investable component of Belgrade’s district-heating system.