Agency for Hydrocarbons: Nine Bids from Seven Bidders Received for Four Geothermal Projects

For the exploration of geothermal waters in four exploration areas in Slavonia, Podravina, and Međimurje, nine bids have been received from seven different bidders, the Agency for Hydrocarbons reported on Wednesday.

The Agency for Hydrocarbons announced the tenders for four exploration areas intended for the exploration of geothermal waters for energy purposes at the beginning of June, and the bidding closed on Tuesday, September 1.

The exploration areas are Ernestinovo, Lunjkovec-Kutnjak, Legrad-1, and Merhatovec, and the Commission for Conducting the Bidding has determined that nine bids were received from seven different bidders for all offered exploration areas, as stated in the Agency’s announcement.

– The next step is the evaluation of the received bids, but it is already clear that the tender has been fully successful despite challenging times, as bids have been received for all announced locations, and the applicants are renowned domestic and foreign companies with experience in the development of geothermal projects – the Agency emphasizes.

They announce that details about potential investors and proposed projects will be presented after the Commission evaluates the received bids.

– These projects in Croatia have the potential to be a flagship of the energy transition, considering that the research will take place in areas where the geothermal potential has been established in wells initially created for the purposes of oil and gas exploration and exploitation – concludes today’s announcement from the Agency for Hydrocarbons.

According to data published by the Agency upon the announcement of the tender, the exploration areas of Ernestinovo, Lunjkovec-Kutnjak, Legrad-1, and Merhatovec have a total area of 207 square kilometers, and the temperature at all locations exceeds 100 degrees Celsius, which is the minimum temperature required for electricity production.

The total potential of all locations is around 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and in addition to electricity production, the greatest potential of geothermal energy lies in heating projects, which are also of interest to Croatian cities and counties, the Agency noted.

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