Presentation

RADIŠA KOSTIĆ, DIRECTOR OF “ELEKTROISTOK–IZGRADNJA”
On High Voltage Wings
The leading company in construction and reconstruction of high voltage electric energy plants, “Elektroistok–Izgradnja” has a long tradition and has certified its reputation by making business with the most prominent world corporations in this and other related sectors. Its business activities have so far been concentrated on the southeast European market, but they are now being extended to the Middle East region

During nearly five decades of business activities, “Elektroistok–Izgradnja”, with the head office in Belgrade and the organization section in Niš, managed to get at the top of the list of companies of that kind in south-east Europe. This is the result of top quality performance of consulting, engineering, construction, reconstruction, repair, mounting and maintenance jobs on high voltage electric energy plants (up to 400kV). The company is among few Serbian companies which during two decades managed to overcome all difficulties caused by transitional challenges and shocks, and to successfully adapt to new local conditions as well as to keep up with technological innovations in the world. It has become known for maintaining high quality of performance in unstable circumstances, which is not an easy task.
– Our company was founded in 1961. It was called “Design and Construction Section” and was part of the Electric Energy Transfer Company “Elektroistok”, belonging to the “Association of Serbian Electric Industry” – says the „Elektroistok–Izgradnja” director Radiša Kostić. – At the beginning it dealt with designing and performing electric mounting jobs in reconstructions and extensions of the existing transformer stations of the Serbian electric network, as well as with construction, repair and maintenance of new ones. We also designed, produced and mounted steel elements for transformer stations, and performed electric mounting work. We took part in major repairs and emergency interventions in transformer stations and on the electric network.
The Serbian electric network of 110 kW was constructed long time ago and numerous problems with supply of materials and equipment imposed the need for this section to undertake construction of new transformer stations as well.
In early 1969 “Design and Construction Section” started performing electric mounting work on construction of the transformer station “Beograd 8” of 400/200 kV and with installed power of two times 400 MVA. At the time it was a transformer station with the highest voltage in the country.
– In late 1973 we started to deal with construction and working documentation which enabled us, from time to time, to perform parallel and coordinated designing, construction, equipment mounting and testing activities – added director Radiša Kostić. – In the period 1972–1978 we constructed twenty six new transformer stations within the high voltage network of “Elektroistok” in Niš, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and in Kosovo and Metohija.

CONSTANT CONQUERING OF NEW AREAS

Within the process of transformation of “Elektroprivreda Srbije”, the company “Elektroistok”, by decision of its Board of Managers and the Serbian government of June 30, 2005, became an independent company. It affirmed the high quality of its work performing jobs for its founder “Elektromreža Srbije” as well as for “Elektroprivreda Srbije”, and successfully cooperating with major world companies such as “US Steel”, “Holcim”, “Messer”, “Kronspan”, “Siemens”, “ABB”, “AREVA”, “Schneider-Electric”, “Moeller”.
– Our company has primarily been concentrated on the market of this region. Now we are turning to the Middle East. We plan to open a branch office there and we expect to carry out major projects together with the renowned company “ACC” from Abu Dhabi - says Kostić.
Today “Elektroistok–Izgradnja” is a modern and technically highly competent company performing all kinds of electric and construction jobs on modern AIS and GIS electro energetic plants. It deals also with engineering, performs technical control of basic projects, cooperates with renowned equipment manufacturers (which means participating in factory testing of the ordered equipment), and prepares professional information for investors.
– We also make designs. We prepare basic electric projects, construction projects, derived state projects, control and relay boxes of AC and DC distribution projects – director Radiša Kostić tells us the details of his profession. – We continue to build new transformer stations, but we also repair, modify and extend the existing ones with the voltage up to 400 kV. We are specialized for the necessary accompanying jobs as well, including mounting of the supporting steel structure, VN equipment, manufacture and mounting of cable shelves and channels, laying and connecting electrical, control, signal and optical cables. We are successful in mounting and connecting command-protection units of AC and DC distributors, batteries, inverters and transformers. These jobs include also testing of VN equipment and preparing testing protocols for handover of electric energy plants.
Professionals in the field of electricity are well aware of the value and complexity of the jobs. The professional activities of “Elektroistok-Izgradnja” also include manufacture of various steel structures, relay boxes and panels for internal and external mounting of AC and DC distributors, mounting and repair of electro energetic transformers of all voltages, drying and chemical regeneration of insulation oil, emergency interventions in case of transformer station failure.
– All these jobs are performed by a team of 136 people. Twenty one of them are experts with university education, fifty four are qualified electro-installers and electro-technicians, thirty three are qualified locksmiths, welders and painters, and twenty eight possess other skills. Eighteen experts with university diplomas are licenced to carry out jobs involving electricity and electricity projects. This well trained and compact team has all necessary technical equipment at their disposal, including a functional motor pool with special freight vehicles.
In forty five years of its existence the company has acquired important references, says director Radiša Kostić proudly. By 2000 it took part in construction of eighty four and renovated seventy seven transformer stations, and connected sixty three of them to the remote control system of command. It also participated in installation of five regional dispatcher centers and a number of main stations.
– In the new millenium too, from 2000 on, the “Elektroistok–Izgradnja” experts have taken part in reconstructions of fifty nine transformer stations in the country and in construction of five new ones. Employees of our company have stayed and performed jobs in almost all major settlements in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro during the last several years – says Radiša Kostić at the end.

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The Team
In addition to Director Mr Radiša Kostić, this successful company is led by a team that includes Mr Srećko Milić, the Director’s consultant, Mr Srđan Stolica, Technical Manager, Mr Aleksandar Lugonja, Financial, Commercial and Personnel Manager, Mr Branislav Srdić, Installation Service Manager, and Mr Bojan Spremić, Preparation Service Manager.