July 2025:

Esotech, d.d., in cooperation with the Public Utility Company Velenje and the municipalities of Velenje, Šoštanj, and Šmartno ob Paki, has taken an important step toward improving environmental infrastructure. A contract has been signed for the construction of a new gas holder to replace the existing one. The project also includes the replacement of outdated technological equipment associated with the gas holder system at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Šalek Valley. This new investment will contribute to more efficient utilization of biogas and increased energy self-sufficiency.

The current gas holder no longer meets modern standards and will be replaced with a larger and more technologically advanced facility, enabling improved sludge treatment and a higher biogas recovery rate. The project comprises civil works, extensive renovation of associated mechanical equipment, related electrical works, and landscaping.

The construction will be carried out in several phases. The first phase was already completed in 2022, during which some installations of the gas holder’s technological system were upgraded. The new solution will contribute to a more sustainable and reliable operation of the treatment plant and will support further development of cogeneration capacities in the region.

July 2025:

Two contracts have been signed with the Municipality of Velenje, marking an important milestone in the comprehensive renovation of the district heating system in the Šalek Valley – the first phase of the “Transformation of the District Heating System” project. The company Esotech, d.d. signed a contract for the modernization of thermal substations and the associated network, and is also participating as one of the partners in the contract for the renovation of insulation and pipe supports in the distribution system.

The project includes a comprehensive upgrade of existing thermal substations and pipelines, aimed at improving the reliability, efficiency, and energy performance of the system.

The works encompass the renovation of thermal substations, the modernization of the secondary network, and the establishment of new internal thermal substations in residential buildings. Network renovation involves the rehabilitation of the primary hot water network and will be carried out at multiple locations in Velenje. The scope of work on the pipelines includes all necessary civil engineering and mechanical works.

The objective of the project is to achieve long-term reductions in heat losses, improve the user experience, and ensure sustainable energy management. This represents a key step toward a fair and sustainable energy transition in the Šalek Valley.

June 2025:

The company Esotech, in collaboration with the Public Utility Company Velenje, successfully participated in the 2025 Innovation Competition organized by the Savinja–Šalek Chamber of Commerce (SŠGZ).

The submitted innovation was the “Plant for the Treatment of Process Water – Centrifugate”, which was developed and implemented as part of a project at the Velenje Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. The innovation contributes to improved treatment of process water, greater energy efficiency, and a reduction in carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

For this innovation, we received a silver award, which was presented to us at a ceremony held at Hotel Plesnik in the Logar Valley in early June 2025.
Sincere thanks to all colleagues and experts who contributed their knowledge, dedication, and committed work to the successful implementation of the project and the development of this innovation.