The consortium led by Aquamont from Herceg Novi has withdrawn its appeal regarding the selection decision made by the Coal Mine for the project to relocate the Ćehotina River bed.

The Coal Mine stated that this official update from the Public Procurement Commission paves the way for the project’s crucial work, which is vital for Montenegro’s electricity system.

“The appeals from the Herceg Novi company did not address the reasons for the exclusion of their consortium from the public procurement process, instead they contested the selected bidder’s documentation. Continuing the appeals process would unnecessarily delay the project, which could result in significant detriment to the Montenegrin power system,” the company emphasized.

The tender commission had excluded the Aquamont-led consortium due to incomplete documentation regarding the company’s capacity requirements.

“Although the process has been completed legally and transparently, prioritizing the interests of the Coal Mine and the state, it is noteworthy that our company and Executive Director Nemanja Laković have faced significant pressure to delay the tender. We have communicated these circumstances to the relevant authorities. Whether there was external pressure on other involved parties, particularly the Aquamont company, remains for them and competent institutions to address,” the statement indicated.

The company noted that they have refrained from responding to organized media attacks on them and Laković in recent days, as those media outlets have not sought information about the proceedings, highlighting a lack of professionalism and adherence to journalistic ethics.

“At no point did these pressures or the dissemination of inaccurate and biased information influence the process or our commitment to executing it efficiently and in compliance with existing regulations,” the Coal Mine asserted.

They remarked on having unblocked critical projects, resolved permitting issues, conducted substantial work, and successfully concluded tender procedures within just one year. The management of the Mine plans to continue focusing on diligent work rather than populism, evidenced by their robust financial and production results over the past year.

“This project faced prolonged delays due to poor decisions made earlier and UT conditions from 2019 that hindered implementation. The new Coal Mine management took effective measures immediately upon assuming office, which resulted in rapid progress on the project and substantial financial savings, having independently completed work valued at 2.96 million euros,” the company detailed.

Upon signing the contract with the chosen contractor, they acknowledged entering a time-sensitive phase, as the project to relocate the Ćehotina riverbed must be finalized by the end of the current construction season, which is half the usual timeframe.

“We are optimistic since the most favorable bidder has considerable expertise in this area, notably having been engaged in constructing embankments on the Lim River in Berane and Bijelo Polje over the past year, funded by the World Bank,” the statement concluded.

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