EPCG intends to construct three gas power plants in Montenegro

Montenegro’s state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has started preparations for the construction of three gas power plants with a total installed capacity of 400 megawatts (MW). Natural gas supplies could be secured from gas deposits in the Adriatic Sea.

Elektroprivreda Crne Gore plans to build a hybrid power plant with a capacity of at least 50 MW near the city of Bar, based on a gas turbine and with the possibility to use renewable sources, as well as a combined gas power plant with a capacity of at least 150 MW within aluminium smelter KAP in Podgorica, also with a potential to utilize renewables. The third gas power plant, with a capacity of up to 200 MW, is envisaged to be installed near the city of Pljevlja.

In order to prepare the necessary documents for the investments, EPCG announced a tender in late December for the selection of a consultant who will be tasked with preparing a study with the development of technical solutions and a preliminary feasibility study.

The gas power plants would use local resources for at least 25 years

The company stressed the construction of the gas power plants is part of the energy transition.

The proposed power plant concept aims to enable long-term use of local resources for a period of at least 25 years and in full compliance with EU climate rules and regulations, according to the tendering documents.

EPCG intends to prepare a strategy to integrate renewable energy sources with the gas power plant operations and also potentially convert them into facilities with net zero CO2 emissions.

Minister Bojanić: Montenegro is very close to starting gas production

Minister of Capital Investments Mladen Bojanić said  Montenegro is on the verge of signing a concession agreement with the company Energean. If everything goes well, the implementation of the agreement would begin in the second quarter of 2022, he said, Vijesti reported.

In March 2017, Energean signed a concession agreement with the Montenegrin government for the exploration and extraction of undersea hydrocarbons not far from the city of Bar at a depth of 50 to 100 meters.

Energean is exploring offshore gas deposits not far from the city of Bar

If extraction of gas is cost effective, the construction of gas power plants and gasification would begin, primarily in the coastal part of the country and Podgorica, said Bojanić, referring to the tendering procedure for gas power plants initiated by EPCG.

Of note, last year Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić revealed a gas power plant near Bar is the one of the options for replacing coal-fired power plant Pljevlja.

The Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline, as well as a gas pipeline that would connect Montenegro with Serbia near Prijepolje are options for the gas supplies, he said.