POWERCHINA Supports Serbia with Sustainable Infrastructure

Located at the intersection of several European climate zones, Serbia is one of Europe’s key centers of ecosystem and vegetation diversity. The Balkans and Pannonian Plain have acted as refuges where many plants and animals survived past climate shifts, leaving today’s landscapes unusually rich in endemic and relict species. Since Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) entered the Serbia market in 2012, the company has deepened its commitment to strengthening Serbia’s infrastructure while preserving these thriving yet delicate ecosystems and communities.

By aligning its infrastructure projects with environmental awareness and social good alongside Serbia’s public sector, POWERCHINA demonstrates how these goals can dovetail with community needs. The company has had a long record of responsible investing in Serbia. From its Eurasia regional headquarters located in Belgrade, the company oversees operations across 63 countries in Europe, Central Asia and South Asia, contributing to some of Serbia’s most important projects. Beyond building infrastructure resilience, POWERCHINA aims to support people and culture, encouraging its team to participate in local engagement.

The path to responsible development: POWERCHINA’s presence in Serbia

Renewable energy: Like the rest of Europe, Serbia is expediting its transition into sustainable energy sources, as made evident by its Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INCEP). To help the country reach its 2050 carbon neutrality goal, POWERCHINA is undertaking new energy projects in Serbia. The Saraorci photovoltaic project, already connected to Serbia’s energy grid in 2024, will provide more than 15 million kWh of renewable energy every year, enough to supply 2,500 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the country by 15,000 tons. Additionally, the Vetrozelena 300MW wind power station is Serbia’s largest new energy power project, with single-unit capacity of 6.25MW.

Internally, POWERCHINA’s clean energy initiatives are a cornerstone of its strategy to contribute to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. To ensure it reaches its milestones, the company has rapidly expanded its clean energy portfolio, signing 11.2GW in new contracts in 2024, largely in wind and photovoltaic (PV) solar power projects, across more than 40 countries.

Water and waste management: POWERCHINA’s resource management efforts in Serbia focus on conserving and managing water and waste infrastructure. On its construction sites, the company follows a “water conservation first” approach that includes tracking resource use, adopting water-saving technologies and implementing wastewater recycling systems to reuse treated water.

This conservation-first approach has yielded tangible benefits for Serbia’s water and waste systems. During the upgrade of the path connecting the town of Beli Potok to Serbia’s State Road IA 1, POWERCHINA also upgraded the water and drainage systems for the residential buildings in the area. This not only sped up the construction process by resolving the long-standing poor drainage and sewage overflow issues, but it also greatly improved the clean water delivery and sanitation conditions for residents.

Furthermore, POWERCHINA is currently building the Obrenovac–Novi Beograd District Heating Pipeline, designed to transport up to 800MW of heat from the Nikola Tesla power plant to the Novi Beograd heating plant in Belgrade(600MW) and Obrenovac(200MW). This project will reduce emissions from inefficient gas/fuel boilers and benefiting residents with reliable and affordable district heating.

These are only a few notable cases from a broad array of initiatives by POWERCHINA. Across its projects globally, POWERCHINA reused approximately 1.3 million cubic meters of construction water resources in 2024—roughly the equivalent of 500 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Connecting communities. POWERCHINA’s transportation projects in Serbia share a common goal: making travel easier and connecting communities across the country.

A prime example is the Belgrade Metro Line 1 Project. Designed as the backbone of the city’s public transit system, once completed, this high-capacity metro will reduce travel times, provide a reliable way to navigate Belgrade’s busiest corridors, and lower road traffic and air pollution. It will also improve access to public services across the city.

The new Sava River Bridge reflects the same vision. Upon its opening, the modern multi-span structure will ease traffic, improve public-transport flow and strengthen the connection between old and new Belgrade. It will also support the city’s broader efforts to build a more efficient and sustainable urban mobility network.

Similarly, the Gornji Milanovac Bypass, built by POWERCHINA as the primary contractor, has enhanced traffic flow since opening in 2024. By providing a dedicated route for commercial vehicles, the bypass has streamlined the movement of goods while reducing congestion and freight-related emissions in nearby residential areas.

As these projects continue to make steady progress, several completed initiatives by POWERCHINA have already begun to benefit the region, including the construction of Belgrade Bypass Section B, a key motorway corridor forming a western and southern arc around Serbia’s capital. With its completion in 2023, POWERCHINA helped close a critical gap that allows transit traffic to bypass the urban core, significantly reducing city congestion and bolstering the road’s capacity.

Placing people at the heart of infrastructure development

Connecting communities means more than physical roadways; POWERCHINA is also connecting hearts through sustainably built community centers. The Serbian National Football Stadium, under construction with POWERCHINA as the primary contractor, will accommodate more than 52,000 sports fans and become the new home of the Serbian football team. In addition to a state-of-the-art playing field, greenery will be a key part of the stadium’s characteristics. Alongside the stadium, a new section is also being built to host the upcoming Expo 2027, adding Belgrade to the list of Eurasia’s top innovation hubs.

Moreover, the Užice Bypass project has supported vulnerable groups, such as children in foster care or students in local schools, while also improving commuting and agricultural transport for nearby residents. Similarly, during the construction of the Obrenovac–New Belgrade heating pipeline, POWERCHINA supported surrounding residents with school supplies and daily necessities in addition to improving local traffic safety through infrastructure upgrades.

Cultural sharing is an important part of POWERCHINA’s work in Serbia. Chinese and Serbian employees regularly come together to celebrate festivals such as the Spring Festival, International Women’s Day and New Year. The company also actively supports employees’ cultural life by organizing activities throughout the year, including a Family Day parent-child event, which provides a relaxed setting for Chinese and Serbian staff and their families to interact and strengthen bonds outside of work. In addition, POWERCHINA is empowering youths in Serbia by organizing in initiatives such as the “China-Serbia Youth Friendship Dialogue”, where young people from both nations shared their unique experiences and insights in fostering China-Serbia friendship. Together, these events help build trust, bridge cultures and foster deeper mutual understanding while respecting local traditions.

Worker and community safety are priorities across all projects. POWERCHINA implements comprehensive health, safety and environmental measures, including occupational health screenings and training programs.

Collaborating on a brighter future

Even amid global uncertainties, POWERCHINA continues to pursue responsible growth, technological progress and strong international partnerships, guided by ESG principles and a commitment to sustainable infrastructure.

Zooming in on Serbia, POWERCHINA is supporting the country’s development agenda. Their strong ties have already positively promoted bilateral economic and trade relations, as well as the overall economic development of China and Serbia. Working closely with Serbia’s public sector, local partners and the communities they serve, POWERCHINA aims to assist in providing resilient, sustainable infrastructure that will benefit future generations.

POWERCHINA’s achievements in Serbia set a clear example for its global operations. As it expands into new sectors and low-carbon industries, the company remains aligned with global sustainability goals and continuing its people-centric approach.