In the Commercial Court, the third trial of the lawsuit filed by the builder of small hydropower plants against the state has begun, in which the consortium of companies "Dekar" and "Hydro Energy" is seeking the annulment of the mutual termination of the contract signed with the then Government in December 2019 for the construction of two small hydropower plants on Trepačka river, as well as compensation based on the investment and future income for the concession period of 29 years.
The total investment was estimated at 9,5 million euros, and how much the consortium has invested so far and how much the lost profit could be will be determined in court proceedings.
In October 2019, the former Government of Duško Marković initiated the contract termination procedure because the concessionaire did not provide the support of the locals for the construction of two hydroelectric plants. The Ministry of Economy at the time, headed by Dragica Sekulić, later announced that on December 30, 2019, they concluded a mutual termination of the contract with this consortium without payment of compensation for both contracting parties.
The owner of both companies in this consortium is Momčilo Miranović, whose wife Vesna Miranović is a former assistant to the Minister of Health and a high official of the former ruling party DPS. Hydro Energy's account has been blocked for almost three years due to a debt of 6,3 thousand euros. The representative of the consortium in the lawsuit against the state is Ana Đukanović, sister of the president of the state and DPS Milo Đukanović.
The lawsuit of this consortium was filed on December 31, after the election of the new government. Minority shareholder of Elektroprivreda Vasilije Miličković submitted a request to the Commercial Court to intervene in this proceeding due to the possible damage that EPCG would have from this contract. At the next hearing, scheduled for June 2, judge Dijana Raičković will decide on Milicković's request. After that, the representatives of "Dekar" will begin presenting evidence and proposing witnesses.
At the trial yesterday, it was announced that mediation had previously been initiated for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, but that the Agency for Alternative Dispute Resolution announced that this dispute was not mediated, that is, it was not acceptable for a peaceful resolution procedure.
The company "Dekar" has another lawsuit against the state because it believes that they were not allowed to build the small power plant "Ljeviška - source of Morača". With that lawsuit, they are asking the state for damages in the amount of the investment and lost profit for the concession period of 25 years.
At the moment, five court proceedings are active in the Commercial Court on lawsuits filed by builders of small hydropower plants.
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