President Milanović Tours Largest Solar Power Plant in Republic of Croatia on Cres Island
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović travelled to the island of Cres where he visited Loznati and Orlec villages and the Town of Cres in the company of the mayor of the Town of Cres Kristijan Jurjak, Town of Cres Municipal Council chairman Marčelo Damijanjević, deputy mayor Marin Gregorović and Town of Cres Municipal Council co-chairman Patris Salković.
Construction of the largest solar power plant in the Republic of Croatia and one of the most significant projects on Cres island is underway on the location of Orlec Trinket-East. President Milanović toured the site accompanied by HEP Management Board member Petar Sprčić, Kvarner Regional Energy Agency director and member of the Energy Transition Council of the President of the Republic Ivan Andročec and Island Development Agency director Ugo Tojić. During the tour of the solar power plant’s construction site a presentation of the Energy Cooperative Cres-Lošinj was made to President Milanović. The Cooperative was founded by the towns of Cres and Mali Lošinj and about thirty stakeholders from Cres and Lošinj islands grouped in the Island Development Agency. The first major investment that the Cooperative plans to launch after its founding is construction of a solar power plant in the northern part of Cres.
“Modern renewable energy is what we’ve seen and maybe the most important thing. I can’t insist on that, but I’m trying to encourage it as much as I can. This is an example of good cooperation between HEP, the largest State company, and the local self-government which has a clear idea of what it wants to achieve”, President Milanović told journalists.
At Loznati President Milanović toured the Cheese Factory of the Agricultural Cooperative Loznati, which has reestablished daily production of cheese in Cres and secured valuable jobs for the island’s young families. The Loznati Cooperative’s administrator Bruno Žic acquainted President Milanović with the cheese factory project that was funded through the EU Rural Development Programme, HBOR loans, and a significant part from private investors.
Continuing his visit to Cres, President Milanović, in the company of the rector of the University of Rijeka Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, toured Moise Palace, a 500 year-old Renaissance Palace which, thanks to European funds and the efforts of the local authorities has been reconstructed and revitalized as a model of sustainable reconstruction of historical heritage and has become an Educational Research Center of the University of Rijeka. After touring it President Milanović said that the reconstruction of the palace is the right thing, however, regrettably few people are aware of it. “It’s been reconstructed relatively quickly with European funds and is magnificent now. It offers space and a possibility for the development of academic tourism and academic work, some sort of small inter-university center such as the one in Dubrovnik”, the President noted.
With a tour of the reconstructed and expanded western part of the port of Cres, President Milanović concluded his visit to Cres island.
Accompanying the President of the Republic were his Head of Cabinet Bartol Šimunić, the Adviser to the President of the Republic of Croatia for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic of Croatia for Energy and Climate Julije Domac.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas