The power cable would cross two national parks

The project of the underwater energy connection between Montenegro and Italy has a large negative impact on the environment and meets private economic interests, according to the representatives of the non-governmental organization Green Home.

They emphasize that the irresponsible and frivolous attitude towards natural resources, the greatest potential of Montenegro, is best demonstrated by the lack of an analysis of profits and losses from the eventual realization of that work.

It is planned that the submarine energy cable will exit near Jaz, be connected on land to Lastva Grbaljska, where a huge facility with a substation would be built, and from where the transmission line would pass through eight municipalities to Pljevlje.

It was regretted that an expert analysis of the impact of ionizing and electromagnetic radiation on the environment and the health of the population on the corridor route was not done.

The first round table as part of the public debate on the proposed locations in the drafts of the detailed spatial plan (DPP) and the strategic environmental impact assessment (SEA) will be held the day before tomorrow in Kotor.

"The route of the transmission line through the zones of the Lovćen and Durmitor national parks, and even crossing the territory of the Tara river canyon, represents meeting private economic interests. Contrary to the need to protect the environment, the shortest and cheapest route connecting the Montenegrin coast with Pljevlje was chosen, while alternative solutions are which would bypass these areas rejected due to the increase in construction costs, which would be borne by the future investor," Green House said.

It costs the state the most

NGOs estimate that the project would cost nature and Montenegrin society in general and the state the most, because it permanently loses the possibility of economic use of a large part of the territory. They emphasize that Italy would benefit the most through the company Terna, which is leading the business in cooperation with Montenegrin Elektroprenos (CGES).

Recalling that Durmitor National Park with the area of ​​the Tara River enjoys double international protection (MAB and UNESCO), Green House believes that such protection status can be called into question by an irresponsible approach to the management and preservation of the area and the realization of a megalomaniac project

"Neither has a cost-benefit analysis been done for the underwater cable, just as the real costs, losses and gains of the state from that work have not been presented to the public. In the case of the construction of the cable, Montenegro will permanently lose part of an extremely valuable territory in Lastva. Grbaljska, then along the route of the transmission line, since that irreplaceable resource would be visually damaged and lost as a potential for the development of tourism, agriculture and livestock. This type of indirect or so-called "hidden costs" cost the state the most during the implementation of each project, and in this case they , judging by the available documentation, they were not even taken into consideration and are not known," the Green House pointed out.

They compare this project with the dams on Morača because, as they state, the approach of "distorting" the facts and attempting to manipulate the public has been maintained, because in certain parts of the draft of the DPP and SAE it is written that the cable will have a positive impact on the development of tourism, although such a claim is not explained nor explained.

"On the other hand, the only positive effect is enhancing the construction of the transmission network, while neglecting the fact that it is a one-way cable that would export energy from Montenegro and the region to Italy. This contributes to solving the energy deficit of the neighboring country, not Montenegro. Above," said the NGO.

Devastation of space

They warn that extremely important areas would be devastated if the high voltage lines would "cut" the two national parks.

In addition to the negative impact on biodiversity and the loss of important forest areas, as they emphasize, it will have a negative impact on environmental values, and the consequences can be far-reaching, especially on tourism.

Reminding that NP Durmitor with the area of ​​the Tara River enjoys double international protection (MAB and UNESCO), Green House believes that such protection status can be called into question by an irresponsible approach to the management and preservation of space and the realization of a megalomaniacal project.

"This would have incalculable consequences for the development of tourism and the image of Montenegro. There is also the question of the plan's compliance with the national Sustainable Development Strategy, which emphasizes the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of natural values, the increase of national protected areas, the restoration and rehabilitation of forests...", they stated. from this NGO.

It was regretted that an expert analysis of the impact of ionizing and electromagnetic radiation on the environment and the health of the population along the route of the corridor was not carried out.

Green House concludes that the planned construction of the cable is also problematic from the aspect of social acceptability, bearing in mind the size of the project compared to the territory of Montenegro and the fact that it would physically divide the country.

Drafting of the DPP draft for the submarine energy connection project with Italy was led by the Republican Institute for Urban Planning and Design, the brother of the DPS leader, businessman Aco Đukanović.