Croatia taps Vinkovci heat in bid for energy freedom
Drilling operations in Vinkovci have revealed substantial geothermal reserves, marking another advance in efforts to boost Croatia’s energy self-sufficiency. Testing at the Vinkovci GT-1 site recorded temperatures reaching 131 degrees Celsius at a depth of 2,700 meters, according to the Hydrocarbons Agency. The discovery represents the third successful exploration following earlier finds in Velika Gorica and Osijek, where similar high-temperature reservoirs were identified. Agency president Marijan Krpan said the findings demonstrate that the nation possesses significant heat resources and technical expertise to develop them for commercial purposes.
The exploration program receives 50.8 million euros through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to investigate four sites. Crosco, an INA Group subsidiary, performed the drilling work under agency supervision. Officials plan to establish production and injection well pairs at confirmed locations to enable sustained extraction of thermal energy for district heating networks and agricultural applications.
Mayor Josip Romic called the results historic for the city and surrounding region, stating preparations would begin immediately for studies and implementation plans. The thermal resource could support greenhouse agriculture and reduce heating costs while cutting emissions. One additional site in Zapresic awaits evaluation before the agency proceeds with development of confirmed deposits.
