Montenegro is carrying out a €2.2 million rehabilitation and upgrade of three state-owned petroleum storage tanks at the Port of Bar, with the facilities being prepared for inclusion in the country’s mandatory strategic oil-reserve system.
The three tanks have a combined capacity of approximately 17,600 cubic metres. Their rehabilitation is intended to strengthen Montenegro’s capacity to maintain strategic fuel stocks and meet EU energy-security requirements. Construction and rehabilitation works are progressing according to schedule. The tanks have undergone cleaning, testing and protective coating works, while contractors and supervision teams have been active at the site since March.
The European Commission is supporting the project, which forms part of Montenegro’s alignment with EU energy legislation under Chapter 15 – Energy. Strategic petroleum reserves are intended to ensure emergency supplies in the event of disruptions affecting imports or regional fuel markets. Montenegro remains heavily dependent on imported petroleum products, making domestic storage capacity an important element of its energy-security infrastructure. The Port of Bar provides the centre for the storage system because of its role in fuel imports and bulk logistics, as well as its connections with Montenegro’s inland transport network.
The upgraded facilities are also expected to reduce the need for Montenegro to depend on commercial or foreign storage capacity during supply emergencies. The investment addresses a specific gap in the country’s energy-security infrastructure by increasing domestic strategic storage capacity. Stronger domestic reserves can provide greater resilience against short-term supply disruptions and additional flexibility for authorities during regional fuel-market interruptions. The project also links Montenegro’s EU accession requirements with investment in physical energy infrastructure alongside regulatory alignment.
