„Clean Serbia“ compared to negative statistics

Apart from the construction of the sewage network, the „Clean Serbia“ Project also includes the construction of wastewater treatment plants. It is possible to address the negative statistics on the circumstances in this field only systematically and on the level of the entire country.

The implementation of the „Clean Serbia“ Project is currently ongoing in more than 20 cities in Serbia. Many construction sites currently include the construction of sewage network so that the wastewater can be drained away from the urban settlements. By constructing the sewage network for the residents of cities and municipalities, an opportunity to preserve a healthy environment, biodiversity of rivers, but also a higher standard of living for the very residents is provided. The impelementation of the „Clean Serbia“ Project includes a further level of water treatment through the construction of wastewater treatment plants.

The main goal of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended solid matter as possible before the remaing water, which is called the effluent, is discharged back into the environment. As the solid matter is broken apart, it consumes oxygen which is necessary for both plants and animals inhibiting the waters.

In order to achieve the goal of enviornmental protection and preservation and the increase in the standard of living, the plan is to construct 165 wastewater treatment plants in Serbia through the project.

The process of wastewater treatment directly correlates to the availability of drinking water.

The circumstances in this field are also illustrated in the „Guide to wastewater treatment“ which was made in 2019 by NALED, authored by Nebojsa Pokimica:

-32.7 % of public water supply systems in urban areas had both physical and chemical defects in the drinking water in 2019.

-63.5 % of the Serbian population uses underground waters for water supply (wells, boreholes, tapped springs)

– Less than 8% of municipal wastewater is treated before discharge in the Republic of Serbia

-14.4% of the population was covered by a wastewater treatment system in 2019.

– Only around 65.2% of the population (the number of households – 1,572,314) is connected to a sewage system, while the rest resort to septic tanks.

– An approximate number of cities/municipalities that have a wastewater treatment plant in Serbia is 47. Out of those, only 26 are operational (with two being reconstructed and five in trial work)

– Only 5 units of local goverment possess a plant with a tertiary treatment

All the aforementioned data is the reason for the implementation of the „Clean Serbia“ Project.

Gojkovic: With „Clean Serbia“ 11.8 million for the City of Valjevo

Through the implementation of the „Clean Serbia“ Project, the City of Valjevo will receive a sewage network and two wastewater treatment plants. „The Project is of great significance for the City of Valjevo“, said the Mayor Lazar Gojkovic.

The City of Valjevo has signed an Annex with the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, making it another one among seven other local governments capable of systematically adressing the wastewater issue.

„The Ministry has allocated 11,830,000.00 Euros for our City for the implementation of the „Clean Serbia“ Project, and the plan is to build 25,416.00 meters of sewage network and two wastewater treatment plants“ Gojkovic stated.

The plan is to build sewage network in the settlements of Popucke and Lelic through the „Clean Serbia“ Project.

We remind that the signing of the Contract was attended by the Ambassador of the PR China to Serbia, Chen Bo, who stated that the “Clean Serbia” is a significant project for the development of Serbia, because it will impact the improvement of the living standard and the level of environmental protection.

New knowledge and experiences to improve the “Clean Serbia”

The People’s Republic of China organized training in the field of wastewater treatment. Thanks to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and Ambassador Chen Bo, Stefan Vidić, process engineer in the plant design sector for wastewater treatment on the Clean Serbia project, participated in a two-week training.

Appreciating the exchange of experience, and as a country that records enormous progress in conquering new technologies in China, it is organized by the Suzhou University of Science and Technology, and under the auspices of the Ministry trade of the People’s Republic of China organized a two-week training, which Vidić says fully covered all aspects of the application of the latest technologies in this area, which are of great importance for the realization “Clean Serbia” project.

Sharing his experiences, Vidić says that during the training he had the opportunity to visit a wastewater treatment plant, a plant for the processing of kitchen waste and the production of fertilizers with a high nutrient content, a municipal waste incinerator, and Lake Taihu, which has 9 drinking water supply points, and familiarized himself with the application state-of-the-art technologies in this field.

“I am delighted with how much effort and resources China, as one of the most powerful countries in the world, invests in environmental protection,” says Stefan Vidić.

Stefan, as a representative of Serbia, gave a speech during the closing ceremony and obtained a certificate of successful attendance of the training, which created a prerequisite for the acquired knowledge to be used in improving the realization of the “Clean Serbia” project itself.

“In addition to gaining new professional knowledge, this was also an excellent opportunity to get to know China and Chinese culture, make new friends and contribute to a deeper understanding and friendship between China and Serbia”, states Vidić with gratitude and support for the scientific and technical exchange between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia.

“Clean Serbia” would like to thank the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of China and the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade for their support and the opportunity for our young colleagues to gain new knowledge and experience.

Chen Bo:Cooperation between Serbia and China

Announcing the results that companies CCCC and CRBC have achieved in Serbia in the past 14 years, the Ambassador of the People‘s Republic of China to Serbia, Chen Bo, has put an emphasis on the „Clean Serbia“ Project as one among numerous projects currently being implemented in Serbia by these companies.

Chinese companies CRBC and CCCC have organized a conference called Communication – Integration – Ecosystem, where many projects these companies are currently implementing in Serbia in various spheres of life were presented.

The Ambassador of the People‘s Republic of China to Serbia, Chen Bo, has stated that the Chinese company „China Road and Bridge Corporation“ (CRBC) was one of the first infrastructural companies to enter the Serbian market, reminding that the construction of the Mihajlo Pupin Bridge was what had initiated the cooperation between China and Serbia in the field of infrastructure.
„In the meantime, CRBC had actively taken part in the implementation of projects of infrastructural construction in Serbia, such as sections of the  Milos Veliki Highway, Beograd-Budimpesta fast track and the „Clean Serbia“ Project, donated the resources and materials during the Coronavirus pandemic as well as for the cultural events. The time has given its contribution to the cooperation between our two countries and has consolidated our friendship“ said the Ambassador Chen Bo.

The Ambassador Cen Bo expresses hope that the cooperation between CRBC and the Serbian partners will be even better in the future, in order to facilitate an even greater development of both Serbia and the cooperation between Serbia and China.

Vesic: Annex for additional 25 km of sewage for Cantavir and Bajmok

The Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic was in the Municipality of Bajmok, where he has notified the residents of said Municipality that they had entered the state program „Clean Serbia“, worth 3.5 billion Euros.

Vesic said that the Constract has already been signed with Subotica on the construction of 60 kilometers of sewage and a wastewater treatment plant, and that an Annex to that Contract is being prepared for an additional 25 kilometers of sewage for Cantavir and Bajmok.

„First priority is sewage, through the „Clean Serbia“ Project, we are investing 3.5 billion Euros into the sewage, and we need to cover around 2,3 million residents. We have recently signed a Contract for the Construction of 60 kilometers of sewage in Subotica and an Annex to that contract is being prepared for two local communities, Cantavir and Bajmok, and that is adding 25 kilometers more respectively, in addition to wastewater treatment plants“, the Minister concluded.

Accodring to him, 25 per cent of Bajmok will be covered by sewage, including the wastewater treatment plant, which will essentially address one of the core issues of the Bajmok residents. The Municipality itself should ‚cover‘ the rest of the territory.

Clean Serbia one of the most important projects for Novi Sad

The Mayor Milan Djuric has announced, after the meeting with the representatives of CRBC, that the construction of a wastewatertreatment plant should ensue in the upcoming period. Gradonačelnik Milan Đurić najavio je nakon sastanka sa predstavnicima kompanije CRBC za naredni period izgradnju postrojenja za preradu otpadnih voda.

After the meeting with the representatives of CRBC, the Mayor of Novi Sad Milan Djuric has announced on his Instagram Profile, that many projects that this company is currently impementing in Novi Sad were talked about.

„It was concluded, in the conversation with the Chinese partners, that there are no issues in the process of implementation of designs, and that works are progressing according to the established dynamics. Important meetings await in the upcoming period, pertaining to the implementation of the „Clean Serbia“ Project, i.e., the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, as one of the most important designs for our City. We will continue to develop our Novi Sad“ Djuric stated.

 

Change of traffic movement in the Liman 2 Settlement

Due to the works on the reconstruction of sewage network, done as part of the „Clean Serbia“ Project, there will be a temporary change of traffic movement in the Settlement of Liman 2 in the crossroad zone of Narodnog fronta and Dr Ivana Ribara Streets, said the local authorities of the City of Novi Sad.

There will be a complete halt of traffic in the Narodnog fronta Street, in the traffic lane on the side of the Dr Ivana Ribara Street, and the traffic will continue two-way in the other traffic lane.

The temporary change of traffic movement shall remain effective until June 9 2023.

 

Jabucje receives 20 km of sewage through the “Clean Serbia” Project

The municipality of Lajkovac will become equipped with additional 33 kilometers of sewage network and two wastewater treatment plants, announced the president of Lajkovac Municipality Andrija Zivkovic.

Jabucje, the largest village in the Municipality of Lajkovac, will receive 20 kilometers of primary sewage network. The President of the Municipality, Andrija Zivkovic, marked the beginning of the construction of the network at the beginning of Jabucje.

“Last year, the first 11 kilometers of the sewage network were completed as part of the “Clean Serbia” Project: four kilometers in Rubribreza, three kilometers in Bogovadja, a 4-kilometer section of the sewage system in Jabucje – Donji kraj, and 20 kilometers remain to be completed for the entire village. : from Vis, Gaj and Šerinka to Staro selo. Five substations will be built, one for each part of Jabucje. Of the 20 kilometers of the network, three kilometers will be a low-pressure network, where special connections will be made to manholes for households. The costs of constructing the manholes will be borne by the Municipality, so households will not have to pay for connection to the sewage network,” said Zivkovic during a tour of the site.

According to him, with the implementation of the “Clean Serbia” Project in this municipality, Lajkovac will be one of the few municipalities in Serbia where 70 percent of the population is connected to stormwater and wastewater sewage.

“Design documentation for the reconstruction of the existing wastewater treatment plant in Celije, as well as the construction of a mini-compact plant for Bogovadja, is in progress. In this way, we will increase the capacity of the plant to 10,000 users, which is optimal for Lajkovac at the moment,” Zivkovic stated.

Vesic: Big Projects for Serbia with the help of the PRC

The Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesic, during the conversation with the Minister of Transport of the People’s Republic of China, Li Xiaopeng, mentioned significant projects for the Republic of Serbia in which Chinese contractors are participating. Among the projects mentioned by Minister Vesic is the Clean Serbia Project.

“I pointed out that Chinese companies are participating in the biggest projects in Serbia, such as the construction of the subway and a project such as the “Clean Serbia” through which we will provide sewage for over 2.3 million people —  a project worth over 3.5 billion Euros. There is also the construction of railways, the same company that is currently working on a high-speed railway between Novi Sad and Subotica in the length of 108 kilometers is also working on about 150 kilometers of railway through Hungary, so thanks to the work of Chinese companies, we will have Belgrade and Budapest connected”, said the Minister.

The Minister pointed out that Serbia is completely open to cooperation with all companies from the West and the East and that as a country that leads an independent and free policy, it has no restrictions, except, as he said, the restriction in terms of the best interests of the citizens of Serbia.
Xiaopeng expressed great satisfaction with the cooperation between the two countries so far.
“I would like to thank your ministry and the government for their special care and support for Chinese infrastructure companies in Serbia. I believe that we will continue doing business and provide high-quality services as a way of gratitude for your trust,” Xiaopeng said during the meeting.

He stated that the Chinese party highly values the strengthening of cooperation with Serbia in the field of transport and traffic and would like to see it deepened and expanded.

“The friendship between China and Serbia is traditional and it has been complemented in the past few years by a comprehensive strategic partnership that is implemented in all areas”, said Xiaopeng and added that he will discuss investments with his colleagues and evaluate the situation in order to promote Serbia.

“I am very satisfied with this pleasant meeting and I believe that we will continue frequent communication because I believe that cooperation has a perspective and that it will be enriched with new results,” said Xiaopeng.

 

Clean Serbia significant for Kucevo Municipality

Investments related to the Clean Serbia Project have a significant place among infrastructural investments in the Municipality of Kucevo. The value of works executed in this Municipality is 11.2 million Euros.

The President of the Municipality of Kučevo, Dr. Ivan Rajicic, in addition to investments in the construction of roads and the development of the tourist offer of this Municipality, but also of the entire Branicevo District, singles out the investment related to the “Clean Serbia” Project.

“It is a very significant investment for several reasons. In this way, we will collect all wastewater, and what is very important, it will no longer flow into the Pek river, but instead into a wastewater treatment plant that will be built. We are proud of the fact that we take care of the Pek River as we do of the European river Danube. In the past years, we have had a very important and great battle for the river Pek”, said Dr. Ivan Rajicic, President of the Municipality of Kucevo.
As part of the Clean Serbia Project, works are currently being executed in the settlements of Kucevo and Rabrovo. According to the President of the Municipality, the dynamics of the works show that the deadline for the completion of the works on the sewage network with a total length of 25 kilometers will be met. According to his expectations, the works on the construction of the wastewater treatment plants should start by the end of this year so that they would be in operation next year.

The Clean Serbia Project plans for the investments in the aforementioned works in this Municipality in the amount of 11.2 million Euros.