Hydropower plant overhaul raises environmental issue

The regular yearly refurbishment in hydroelectric power plant Perućica should be finished by September 8, after dewatering commenced on August 7, Montenegrin Electric Power Company (EPCG) announced at its website.

Meanwhile, the local recreational fishing club said the measure led to the destruction of ten tonnes of fish, while only four tonnes were saved, compared to 6,600 kilograms last year. Coordinator Vujica Lalić said that except overhaul bad weather was also a factor this time, Onogošt portal reported.

EPCG said the damage claim is unrealistic, while fishermen reminded the utility it is obligated to build a protection system. The company replied the main project has been produced by experts from the national university and that implementation is in the pipeline pending, among other steps, the financial framework.

This year’s annual overhaul includes only regular activities in plant facilities and on intake systems.

Perućica is located north of Bjelopavlići plain. For electricity generation the hydro facility uses river Gornja Zeta which flows from Nikšićko polje, a karst field, under favourable waterhead covering a short distance. The system with installed capacity of 307 MW includes reservoirs Krupac, Slano and retention Vrtac while the Perućica system also has another five small hydropower plants located on the territory of Podgorica, Kolašin, Cetinje and Šavnik with annual electricity generation of 6 GWh.