The Montenegrin government plans to issue a new public call for concession agreements for hydrocarbon exploration in the country’s offshore areas, marking a new phase in the development of the oil and gas sector.
The goal of the call is to obtain new seismic and geophysical data to assess the potential for commercial oil and gas reserves. At this stage, exploration will be conducted only for data collection, without rights to drilling or production. The collected data will become state property, while concessionaires can sell it to interested oil companies, sharing revenue with Montenegro.
Preparations for the tender are being led by the Ministry of Energy and the Hydrocarbons Administration, which will also hire legal consultancy services to support the process. Previous offshore exploration tenders began in 2013, leading to agreements with Eni-Novatek and Energean, both of which were later terminated.
Hydrocarbon exploration is considered of exceptional importance for Montenegro, as discoveries could foster a new industry, contributing to economic growth and higher living standards.
On May 19, 2025, the Montenegrin Parliament adopted the Law on Safety Measures in Offshore Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production, implementing EU Directive 2013/30/EU and updating safety standards. The law, effective June 4, 2025, aims to ensure safe operations and minimize environmental, human, and property risks.
The Ministry of Energy and Mining is preparing secondary legislation for full implementation, including rules on safety and environmental reporting, documentation for security measures, and emergency response procedures. These regulations will standardize risk management for offshore operations and will be applied once Montenegro becomes an EU member.
During the tender preparation, the Hydrocarbons Administration is ensuring that potential projects align with national energy policies, environmental protection standards, and EU regulations.
