Montenegro is progressing towards establishing its mandatory 90-day strategic petroleum reserve, with private fuel companies having fulfilled their assigned stockholding obligations and the government preparing a separate diesel purchase for state-controlled emergency supplies.
The Ministry of Energy and Mining confirmed that private petroleum companies had met their obligations under the current system. However, completion of the private-sector component does not establish that the full national reserve requirement has already been achieved.
State Diesel Procurement and Storage Capacity
The government plans to purchase additional diesel through a public call administered by the Hydrocarbons Administration. Authorities intend to proceed when market prices are considered more favourable, although the planned purchase’s volume and financial value have not been disclosed. The state procurement remains a separate component of the reserve-building process, alongside stocks maintained by private fuel companies.
Montenegro is also rehabilitating strategic petroleum storage facilities at the Port of Bar. Three state-owned tanks, with a combined capacity of approximately 17,600 cubic metres, are being prepared to accommodate emergency fuel stocks.
Energy Security and Fuel Distribution Requirements
Montenegro’s dependence on imported petroleum products exposes its economy to potential disruptions in regional supply chains, shipping and refinery availability. Interruptions could affect transport, construction, tourism and food distribution. Strategic reserves are intended to provide a buffer during temporary supply disruptions, allowing authorities to manage shortages without immediately depending on emergency imports.
The stockholding framework also imposes additional working-capital and storage requirements on fuel distributors. Companies need predictable regulations governing mandatory stock levels, excise treatment and the timing of regulatory changes to plan purchases efficiently.
Fuel companies have called for greater predictability in excise-duty decisions, particularly following government adjustments to fuel-tax relief in response to international market conditions. The planned state diesel purchase, combined with private-sector stocks and rehabilitated storage capacity, is intended to bring Montenegro closer to fulfilling the 90-day petroleum reserve requirement. The programme entails additional infrastructure and inventory costs in the context of EU accession while strengthening the country’s capacity to withstand external energy-supply shocks.
