The decommissioning of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant (TPP) is scheduled for 2041; however, this timeline hinges on the effectiveness of the just transition process and the assurance of a stable electricity supply. The plant’s operational hours will gradually decrease over the years, as officially outlined in a crucial strategic document now open for public debate, shared by Action for Social Justice (ASP).

“After three full years of neglecting the Energy Law, the Draft National and Energy Climate Plan of Montenegro has finally been made available for public discussion. This strategic document is vital for the energy and climate sectors, serving to replace both the Energy Development Strategy and the National Strategy for Climate Change until 2030.

According to the strategic document, the Pljevlja TPP has been the most reliable source of electricity for the past 40 years. Alongside the Perućica and Piva hydroelectric power plants, it accounts for over 85 percent of domestic electricity production. The report highlights that hydroelectric production can be unstable on both yearly and monthly bases, underscoring the importance of stable output from the Pljevlja TPP,” states ASP.

“Despite the fact that the production cost at TPP Pljevlja is considerably higher than that at hydroelectric power plants, the overall effect of their combined operation throughout the year results in a competitive electricity price. In Montenegro, consumer electricity rates are significantly subsidized due to citizens’ social standards. This support is made possible by Elektroprivreda Crne Gore, which will continue to depend on TPP Pljevlja until a safe operation of the system with an adequate number of new renewable energy sources is achieved,” the document states.

The document further claims that if electricity generated at the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant were to be substituted with imported power, consumer electricity prices would rise substantially. Revised project documentation and accompanying guarantees suggest that ecological reconstruction will meet all necessary criteria for obtaining an operational environmental permit.

The completion of ecological reconstruction, costing tens of millions of euros, is expected by November this year; during this period, the Pljevlja power plant will not be operational, according to ASP.

They add that the public document states that the ecological reconstruction aims not at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but rather at meeting prescribed emission standards for facilities of that nature, ultimately aimed at acquiring environmental operation permits.

“It is evident that the cost of electricity generated at the Pljevlja TPP will rise soon due to additional expenses… This plant is anticipated to remain operational until 2035-2037, albeit with a gradual reduction in operating hours to support the achievement of national targets… The plant is projected to remain operational until 2040…”, the document notes in various sections.

The report indicates that the Pljevlja TPP has a direct and indirect impact on over 3,000 jobs and serves as a key economic driver in the northern region of the country. In the likely scenario of its shutdown, Montenegro lacks an alternative energy source to fill the resulting void, as per ASP.

The public debate on the Draft National Energy and Climate Plan of Montenegro will continue until the beginning of August, with ASP confirming that they will submit their feedback on this document.

This non-governmental organization also highlights that in the last few months, they have submitted over 120 distinct comments and suggestions regarding various legal proposals or strategic documents, including revisions to whistleblower laws, amendments to the Criminal Code, updates to the Law on Bankruptcy and Liquidation of Banks, and the National Consumer Protection Program…

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