Nexans power cable contract for Nikola Tesla A
Nexans has signed a €2.1 million contract with Coptech to deliver 206 km of fire‑retardant power cables for a new flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit at Serbia’s 1,560 MW Nikola Tesla A coal‑fired power plant. You can learn more about the company at https://www.nexans.com and about Coptech at https://www.coptech.rs.
This FGD project supports the Serbian government’s €14 billion investment plan to boost the national economy and modernize the power generation sector. As part of that plan, the Nikola Tesla A upgrade aims to improve both reliability and environmental performance at one of the country’s most important power plants.
Fire‑retardant cable scope and manufacturing
Nexans will supply fire‑retardant power cables that meet IEC 60332‑3‑24 CAT C requirements, helping enhance safety and reduce fire risk in the new FGD unit. The low‑voltage (LV) cables will use cross‑linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, while Nexans will also provide matching medium‑voltage (MV) and LV cable families to support the full installation.
The company will manufacture both the MV and LV cables at its Denizli plant in Turkey, which serves as a key production hub for regional projects. Nexans plans an initial delivery phase in 2020, followed by final deliveries in 2021, in line with the schedule for bringing the flue gas desulfurization unit online.
Environmental benefits and regional impact
The Nikola Tesla A plant forms part of the wider Termoelektrane Nikola Tesla (TENT) complex in Obrenovac, near Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. By adding the FGD unit, the plant aims to significantly reduce sulfur dioxide and particulate emissions, supporting Serbia’s efforts to meet strict EU environmental standards while still securing stable power generation.
Executives from both companies highlighted the strategic value of this work. Nexans Turkey has coordinated closely with local partners to deliver high‑quality cable solutions despite a challenging market environment. Nexans’ regional leadership emphasized that this project allows the company to contribute directly to Serbia’s power sector modernization, while Coptech’s management noted Nexans’ proven expertise in power generation projects as a key factor in the partnership.
