State-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) plans to enable citizens to build solar power plants on their land, said Milutin Đukanović, president of the company’s board of directors.

Milutin Đukanović, newly-elected president of the Board of Directors of EPCG, said its strategic goals must be to reduce the electricity bills and increase electricity production. He added he would propose to review the policy of subsidies paid to electricity producers.

In the next four years, Montenegro could double the capacity of its power generation capacity, which is now around 900 MW

Đukanović said the priority is to create a model which will enable all citizens to achieve significant benefits through special programs of individual production of electricity.

EPCG will give priority to the construction of solar power plants and enable citizens to gain significant benefits from their infertile land, he revealed in an address on YouTube.

In the next four years, the total installed capacity for the generation of electricity from solar energy could reach 200 MW while citizens won’t have extra costs, according to Đukanović.

Currently, Montenegro has very low installed capacities for the use of solar energy, but the construction of the 262 MW Briska Gora solar power plant is underway.

Đukanović will propose to the board to build HPP Komarnica, Krnovo 2 wind farm and another unit in HPP Perućica

Đukanović said he would propose to the board of directors to start the construction of hydropower plant (HPP) Komarnica, with a capacity of 170 MW, Krnovo 2 wind farm, with a capacity of 50 MW, as well as the construction of the eighth unit in HPP Perućica (54 MW).

In a period of four years, EPCG could double the total installed capacity of all power plants, which is now 883 MW, Đukanović said.

If it is confirmed that everything was done in accordance with the law, the company will proceed with the Briska Gora project, he asserted.

Closing TPP Pljevlja is not an option

He said it is necessary to complete the modernization of the Pljevlja thermal power plant (TPP) but also acknowledged it had to be done much earlier.

Due to an enormous delay, the functioning of the facility is jeopardized, but the reduction of harmful emissions and the remediation of waste disposal location are projects that have no alternative, he underscored.

Đukanović said the shutdown of TPP Pljevlja is not an option and that the thermal power plant would be the most advanced one in the region after its modernization.