The company Endek from Switzerland has offered to the Government and Elektroprivreda (EPCG) to buy Nikšić's Željezara, and will submit its offer to a public invitation that is open until January 25. In addition, this potential investor is ready to invest 870 million euros in several energy projects, independently of the offer for Željezara.
The potential investor announced his intentions yesterday at a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy, which was attended by the President of the Board of Directors of EPCG Milutin Đukanović, the state secretaries of the Ministries of Transport and Energy, representatives of the Montenegrin Electric Distribution System (CEDIS) and the Montenegrin Electric Transmission System (CGES) in addition to Minister Saša Mujović. , while Regional Development Advisor Aleksandar Stijović was present in front of the President's Cabinet.
The meeting was held behind closed doors and the public was not informed about it.
Several participants of the meeting unofficially informed "Vijesta" that a potential investor offered to buy Željezara and that so far this is the only offer from several interested investors, who expressed interest only in the lease of the Nikšić factory.
"They will submit their offer to the public invitation. When it comes to other investments, they are ready to invest around 870 million only in energy projects, as well as others from the transport sector. The problem is that the state does not have complete documentation in terms of analyzes and other studies for some of the projects that Endek is interested in," said "Vijesti" sources, who yesterday after the meeting could not provide more detailed information about specific offers for investments in the energy sector.
They look at models of cooperation
After yesterday's meeting, "Vijesti" tried to get more information from the participants in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy, but only Đukanović and Stijović were ready to give a brief statement.
The state energy company has been managing the Nikšić Ironworks since January last year, but the start of production at the Steel Plant and Kovčnica plants under the auspices of the EPCG was not possible due to strict rules on state aid.
Đukanović said that the interest of investors in Željezara is great.
"Currently, models of lease and purchase of Željezara are being considered," he said briefly.
Stijović emphasized that Endek is a serious company that operates in 15 countries and works on more than 100 large projects, and that he cannot publish more details because of other interested investors.
He explained that the meeting was long and thorough, and that the Swiss investor is also interested in the energy and transport sectors, that is, investments in railways and highways. Stijović added that they are currently looking for a model by which this company could buy Željezara, since the current public invitation is only for lease.
"This gives hope that many things will be started in the coming period and we have more interest in Željezara. The public call lasts until January 25, and everything will be clarified quickly, who will make offers and what they will look like. On the other hand, we have a good situation in that we managed to sit down at the same table with representatives of all the most important institutions and discuss models of interest for the progress of the country", Stijović pointed out and added that Endek will probably soon open a branch in Montenegro.
EPCG announced a public call for leasing the production capacities of the Nikšić Ironworks for the purpose of valorization and preservation of steel production in mid-December, and applications will be accepted until January 25. The lease is granted for a period of at least five years with the possibility of extending the duration of the contract, while the minimum lease price is EUR 30 per month. The final amount of compensation will depend on the tenant's offer according to the elements of the public invitation.
Interest from Sweden, Luxembourg, Austria...
Potential investors from Sweden, namely the consortium consisting of "Uber Nordic" and "Kvalitetsbygg", are also interested in Nikšić's Željezara. As previously stated by the Department of Energy, that company is specifically interested in investing and starting production. The financial director, Frederik Aker, and the expert consultant of the company "Uber Nordic", Radovan Perović, previously presented the company's investment models of up to 70 million euros in the equipment and facilities of the Ironworks and especially emphasized the intention for long-term investment with a gradual increase in the number of employees.
In addition to that company, Mujović previously visited Željezara with representatives of the company "Duferco" from Luxembourg, where he emphasized that he was satisfied with what he heard. In addition, in the last few days he talked with the representatives of the Austrian company "Safin Handelsges", who are also interested in the factory in Nikšić.
"All companies from Montenegro and abroad that are registered and operate in accordance with the laws of the country in which they perform their activities have the right to participate in the public call. Preference when choosing a business partner will be given to companies with traditions and references in the production of forged carbon, alloy and tool steels," the public invitation states.
According to the public call for lease, among other things, the furnace, casting, colliery and annealing hall will be leased in the Forge, and in the Forge a mechanical and construction workshop, use of parking space, vehicle servicing and maintenance workshop, warehouse space...
The state energy company has been managing Nikšić's Željezara since January of last year, but the start of production at the Čeličana and Kovčnica plants under the auspices of EPCG was not possible, due to strict rules on state aid.
Since EPCG took over the property of the former Željezara from the Turkish Tosjali Group, 380, mostly former employees, have been employed, production has been started in construction and PVC locksmith facilities, the first solar power plant on the roof has been built and is awaiting commissioning, a restaurant has opened, several halls are leased, but to start the former core activity of steel production, 6,5 million euros and an integrated license are needed.
In October of last year, the Agency for the Protection of Competition issued a decision by which it initiated the examination procedure to determine the compliance of the potential state aid given to Željezara, and with that decision, as AZK told "Vijesta", any further allocation of state aid is prohibited until the final decision is made.
Željezara's account has been blocked continuously since October 18 due to a debt of around 110 euros.
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