As part of the EU aid to overcome the energy crisis, numerous infrastructure projects will be considered, with an emphasis on the construction of gas pipelines, gas thermal power plants, as well as the improvement of storage capacities of oil derivatives, and the preparation of a study for the construction of offshore wind farms, said the State Secretary for Energy, Admir Šahmanović.
As he stated, regulations, business modalities and the electricity market are fields where reforms are necessary, and cooperation with the international community will significantly contribute to that process on the way to improving the energy sector.
At the Ministry of Capital Investments, Šahmanović spoke with representatives of energy companies, namely Elektroprivreda (EPCG), the Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator (COTTE), the Montenegrin Electricity Transmission System (CGES), the Montenegrin Electricity Exchange (BELEN), the Hydrocarbons Administration and the Chamber of Commerce about mechanisms overcoming the increasingly certain energy crisis, changes in the direction of redefining the price policy and actions towards categories of vulnerable customers, in order to preserve the stability of the energy sector and burden the citizens as little as possible.
– He looks forward to the intensification of further talks at a time when the energy crisis is becoming more and more certain, and Montenegro is the only one in the region and beyond that has not introduced measures that would cause a burden on its citizens. Regulations, business modalities and the electricity market are fields where reforms are necessary, and cooperation with the international community will significantly contribute to that process on the way to improving the energy sector, which is our primary goal – said Šahmanović.
He added that part of the financial aid that the EU has decided for the countries of the Western Balkans, in order to overcome the energy crisis more easily, will certainly represent a significant support mechanism for Montenegro in globally challenging times.
– It is important to note that, in cooperation with the European Commission, it is planned to draft an Action Document that will define the types of support, that is, subsidies to the most vulnerable categories of the population in the form of paying electricity bills – Šahmanović said.
He stated that this type of cooperation will define the creation of conditions for the optimal functioning of the electricity market, support for infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on the construction of gas pipelines, gas thermal power plants, as well as the improvement of the storage capacities of oil derivatives, and the preparation of the Study for the construction of offshore wind farms.
Representatives of energy companies expressed their support and readiness for the talks to continue, and on the other hand, they announced that they are counting on the state and its support to the energy sector in terms of taking part in overcoming the energy crisis, local media writes.
