The Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency has begun geothermal exploration at the VirGT-1 well near Virovitica and Lukač. The drilling is planned to reach around 1,300 metres, targeting underground structures that may contain potential geothermal water reservoirs. The site lies in the central part of the Drava Basin, a region considered promising for such resources.
According to Marijan Krpan, chairman of the agency’s management board, the work aims to assess whether there is potential that could be utilised in the energy system in the future, primarily for heating, but also for other local applications. “We are applying the same professional and technical standards here that brought positive results in four other Croatian cities,” he said.
Geothermal energy is increasingly recognised in Croatia as a key renewable source, especially for heating in cities across the Pannonian region. The agency has already reported positive findings in Osijek, Velika Gorica and Vinkovci, while results from Zaprešić are expected in the coming weeks.