Montenegro drafts NECP: TPP Pljevlja to be shut down by 2041

The Montenegrin coal power plant Pljevlja should be shut down by 2041, according to the draft National Energy and Climate Plan.

The Ministry of Energy of Montenegro prepared and submitted the draft NECP to the Energy Community Secretariat for a review, Minister of Energy Saša Mujović said, as reported by Vijesti.

He pointed out that Montenegro needs EUR 1.1 billion to achieve all the goals set in NECP. It is a heavy financial burden for the government and makes 2030 goals unachievable, so it is asking for its obligations to be eased.

The Ministry of Energy has officially asked the secretariat in August to reconsider Montenegro’s 2030 climate and energy goals.

Electricity prices must reach 16-17 euro cents per kilowatt-hour

Montenegro is obliged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% to 2,400 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which means introducing strict measures in the electricity and transport sectors. It is necessary to build many renewable electricity plants, introduce electric cars, modernize public transport, and introduce a mandatory share of biofuels, the minister added.

Mujović explained that Montenegro suggested the 2041 deadline for TPP Pljevlja to secure time to install new power plants.

He announced that by the end of the year, the government would determine subsidies for the electricity sector to prevent price increases. However, according to Mujović, the price of electricity must rise by 2027 toward the EU average, which is 27-28 euro cents per kilowatt-hour.

The current price is around ten euro cents.

The price will increase to 16-17 euro cents and reach Croatia’s average, Mujović estimated, adding that socially vulnerable categories would be assisted.

The authorities have prepared a solution for the second cable of the submarine power link

The Ministry of Energy and the Montenegrin TSO CGES have prepared the final solution to unblock the laying of the second cable of the submarine power link between Montenegro and Italy, with a capacity of 1,000 MW. The project part of the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor.

He failed to reveal the details but promised that the issue would be solved by the end of the year.

Two major obstacles are the legal status of properties along the corridor route and the planning documentation for the Pljevlja – Bajina Bašta transmission line.

He recalled that a feasibility study is underway for electricity storage projects. The locations are within hydropower plant Perućica, the former Željezara Nikšić steel plant and the Pljevlja coal mine.