The temporary closure of the Pljevlja thermal power plant has raised concerns about how Montenegro will replace the significant amount of electricity it received from this plant. Potential solutions include solar and wind farms, but the government is also not abandoning the idea of utilizing the potential of river-based, stable energy sources. One of the top priorities remains the Komarnica hydroelectric power plant (HPP), a project that has faced strong resistance from the civil sector.
The Komarnica River is still flowing freely, and for the past four years, civil society and nature enthusiasts have been fighting to keep it that way, as the government sees significant energy potential in the river.
Miljko Bulajić, an opponent of the Komarnica hydroelectric plant, emphasizes that despite four years of efforts, they are still fighting to keep the river free.
“Komarnica is still wild, and it will remain that way. Our ultimate goal is for the Komarnica Canyon to be added to Durmitor National Park and placed under UNESCO protection,” says Bulajić.
However, the government seems to have no intention of placing Komarnica under UNESCO protection. The Komarnica hydroelectric plant, with a capacity of 172 MW, was labeled as one of the priority infrastructure projects for the energy sector at the end of last year.
“HPP Komarnica is not just an energy project – it’s an investment in a more stable future. It aims to ensure energy security, reduce dependence on electricity imports, and contribute to the decarbonization process and a long-term strategy that involves phasing out coal. We understand and respect the concerns of part of the public. The experiences of the most developed European countries confirm that such projects can be successfully implemented while respecting the highest environmental standards,” says Zvjezdan Vujović from the Ministry of Energy.
The project has already failed to obtain environmental approval once and is currently undergoing a second review. Comments on the proposed environmental impact assessment are expected by mid-April.
Milan Vlahović from the Environmental Protection Agency states that the agency has not yet issued any preliminary opinions or positions on the project.
“We will simply respect the decision of the expert commission evaluating the environmental impact assessment. Whatever the commission proposes, we will act according to the law,” Vlahović explains.
While the future of Komarnica remains uncertain, both sides are calculating their respective positions.
“For comparison, if we were to import the energy that could be produced by Komarnica, it would cost over 30 million EUR annually at market prices. This highlights how important such a project is for ensuring Montenegro’s energy independence,” Vujović explains.
On the other hand, Bulajić argues that if the canyon is preserved and the focus shifts to tourism and agriculture, Montenegro could achieve much more.
“However, if we finally have professionals in our tourism sector, we could achieve a lot. We could develop Šavnik, as we’ve envisioned from the start. We could offer people in the area a bright future through agriculture and tourism,” Bulajić concludes.
The Ministry of Energy also points out that some of the most developed European countries, such as Norway, Switzerland, and Austria, rely heavily on hydroelectric energy while adhering to the highest ecological standards. They suggest that Montenegro should aim to follow a similar path. However, many in these countries have supported the civil sector in efforts to keep Komarnica wild and free.
