Impact of risk and uncertainty on sustainable development of Kolubara lignite basin: sectoral and some contextual aspects

Abstract

The paper analyzes the risks and uncertainties and their possible impact on the future development of the Kolubara lignite basin area in the Belgrade metropolitan region. Here has been examined are the risks caused by the global financial crisis to investments in coal exploitation and processing; the preference of actors for investing in the coal exploitation and processing in the Kolubara basin; the strategic options in Serbia‘s energy supply; ''acquis communautaire'' in the energy sector, and environmental protection and planning; the impact of price policies on coal and electric energy, restructuring and the privatization of the public enterprise „EPS" and „Kolubara", etc. The key findings have been pointed out: the new development pattern must adhere to all the standards that are prescribed by the international commitments that Serbia has undertaken and the new development model requests significant institutional and organizational adjustments in the development management of the Kolubara coal basin. However, there is a number of obstacles that hinder more strategic research, thinking and governance to effect in this and other societal spheres, mostly pertaining to the poor planning and broader institutional culture in Serbia. This and some related issues are paid specific attention in the last part of this contribution.