Connecting Montenegro and Italy with an undersea energy cable is the result of strong and long-term cooperation between the energy and industry sectors of the two countries, said the executive director of the Italian company TERNA Luigi Ferraris. At today's meeting with Montenegrin businessmen, which was organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro (PKCG), he assessed that the implementation of that project will make the two energy systems more flexible, stable and resilient. Ferraris said that the TERNA company had an extremely positive experience in Montenegro, both in terms of industrial cooperation, and in terms of the institutional support they received from the authorities at both the national and local levels. "The energy interconnection between Italy and Montenegro represents a fundamental step for the European Energy Union, which, through Italy, will integrate the entire Balkan region into its internal electricity market. It is a strategic project that was included in the list of projects of common EU interest in 2015 and a candidate for inclusion in the list for 2017," said Ferraris. According to him, due to its strategic position, Montenegro can act as a platform for the exchange of electricity between the regions of Southeast Europe and the EU. "The new interconnection will strengthen the national transmission network and the supply of the coastal area, which is characterized by a high level of tourism development. In addition, the cabal will have strong positive effects through the energy sector in all neighboring countries of Southeast Europe, both in terms of further construction of energy facilities in accordance with EU standards, and in terms of foreign trade attraction of capital and growth of national economies," said Ferraris. As he added, the submarine cable is of special, strategic importance for security of supply in central Italy as well. "The new connection will strengthen Italy's role as a Mediterranean hub and will support the opening of new businesses and jobs," Ferraris said. He informed the Montenegrin businessmen that the laying of the cable on land is underway and that it is expected to be completed by February 2018. "Construction work on the converter station on the Italian side is almost finished," Ferraris said and concluded that trial work could begin at the end of next year.
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