Montenegro launches gas-fired power study

Montenegro has awarded a consulting contract to Switzerland's SS&A Power Consultancy to conduct preliminary feasibility work on the nation's first ever gas power plants.

The 400MW gas power plant fleet is being spearheaded by Montenegro's public electricity board, the Public Enterprise Electric Power Industry of Montenegro (EPCG). EPCG is looking to integrate baseload gas power with renewable energy sources, and will also use the consulting study to explore future solutions for carbon capture and storage.

SS&A Power Consultancy has been enlisted to find viable ways to modernise Montenegro's electricity infrastructure, with a view to reducing CO2 emissions and moving toward EU decarbonisation targets.

A single 210 MW coal-fired power station, situated in Pljevlja, is responsible for a large chunk of Montenegro's electricity output. Coal is prevalent across Montenegro and its Western Balkans neighbours, presenting a major obstacle to European net zero targets. World Bank figures suggest the Western Balkans region produces 70% of its power from coal-fired generation.

EPCG's board president, Milutin Djukanović, said: "EPCG is working on finding cleaner solutions, along with the planned strengthening of capacity from renewable sources. The study is the first step and the necessary basis for the realisation of that plan."

Sasa Savic, CEO of SS&A, added: "We are very pleased to be chosen among such strong competition of large international companies, to make the next step in Montenegro’s transition to green energy. There is a great potential to this project, and we are proud to be a part of it."