Djerdap 3 pumped‑storage project moves forward with Romania‑Serbia MoU and US participation

Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Victoria Palace to exchange information on the Djerdap 3 pumped‑storage hydropower plant. The agreement aims to reinforce energy security for both countries, complement existing Iron Gates I and II facilities, and ensure river protection and Danube navigation.

The project, envisioned as a 2,400 MW reversible pumped‑storage facility with an estimated €2.6‑3 bn investment, is also becoming a test of U.S. strategic energy cooperation in the Balkans. An agreement signed in Washington on 18 September 2024 between Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić and U.S. Under Secretary José W. Fernández opened a public call for American firms to submit expressions of interest; six companies responded and are under review. Serbia views Djerdap 3 as a way to balance its coal‑dependent grid, integrate more renewable generation and reduce import exposure.