Small hydropower concessions coming up in Montenegro

Investors can apply for the construction of small hydropower plants in two locations in Montenegro.

The Ministry of Economy is receiving applications for concession awards to exploit water streams. The public call is for the construction of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) on the rivers of Bukovica, in Šavnik municipality in central Montenegro, and Štitarička, in Mojkovac in the country’s northeast.

It also organized a public consultation on the amended proposal for concession award for SHPPs on northeastern streams of Sjevernica in Kolašin municipality, Bistrica and Lještanica in Bijelo Polje, and on Bjelojevićka in Mojkovac. The consultation was wrapped up on August 24. Projects on Bistrica and Bjelojevićka had their contracts terminated by the government because it determined developers failed to fulfill commitments.

The concession for Bukovica and Štitarička encompasses the design and planning, construction, use and maintenance. One bidder, either as a separate party or as a consortium member, is allowed to apply for one water stream. The price of tender documentation is EUR 500. Applications can be submitted until October 5, in Montenegrin language, the ministry said. Each bidder is to submit a bank guarantee of EUR 25,000.

All concessions are for 30 years and the fee is fixed at 6.5% of yearly power generation but it mustn’t be less than 5% from the plan in the bid.