Montenegro’s Hydrocarbon Authority plans to launch a third tender by the end of September for the procurement of the country’s mandatory diesel fuel reserves. An earlier procurement procedure, with an allocated budget of approximately €11 million, was cancelled after higher international fuel prices reduced the amount of diesel that could be purchased within the available funding framework.
State responsible for majority of reserve requirement
Under the reserve system, the state is responsible for securing 60% of the mandatory diesel reserve requirement. The remaining 40% is the responsibility of private-sector fuel operators, including Jugopetrol, INA Crna Gora and Petrol Crna Gora, which have reportedly completed their required purchases. The initial state procurement plan covered approximately 16,500 tonnes of diesel, equivalent to around 19.6 million litres. Due to changes in fuel prices, the quantity available under the previous budget would have been reduced by approximately 6 million litres.
First state-owned reserves targeted for 2026
The Hydrocarbon Authority aims to secure and store the first quantities of state-owned diesel reserves by the end of 2026. The revised tender will need to define key elements including procurement volumes, storage arrangements, fuel quality standards, delivery deadlines and price-indexation mechanisms. Until the state procurement process is completed, Montenegro remains without fully established physical reserves under state ownership.
