We still do not have confirmation that you are collecting quality data on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions due to the effects of forests, on the basis of which we could adopt the request that Montenegro submitted to the Energy Community.
This is what the director of the Energy Community, Artur Lorkovski, said to "Vijesta", during the celebration of 20 years of the Regulatory Agency for Energy and Regulated Utilities (REGAGEN).
In August, Minister of Energy Saša Mujović sent a request to Lorkovski to help Montenegro achieve its national energy and climate goals by 2030 in a sustainable way. Montenegro is then obliged that the share of renewable energy sources in the total final consumption will be 50 percent, as well as that the total emission of gases with the greenhouse effect will amount to 2.420 kilotons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
The Department of Energy pointed out that the goal is difficult to achieve and that it would entail radical moves, such as a significant reduction in the number of working hours of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, replacement of conventional cars with electric cars in the amount of about 50 percent or action on the non-energy sector - agriculture.
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Mujović, together with experts involved in the drafting of the National Energy and Climate Plan, determined that only Montenegro was not taken into account the reduction of emissions from the LULUCF sector (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry - reduction of CO2 emissions due to the action of forests) when making the Decision and defining goals. In other words, significantly stricter rules apply to Montenegro than to other European countries.
Lorkovski clarified that the Ministry's request referred specifically to LULUCF, that is, that these measures be integrated into emissions calculations.
"It is a normal procedure for all countries that these emissions are included in the target, but this was not the case for Montenegro for a simple reason - because Montenegro did not offer high-quality data for the LULUCF sector at the time of the negotiations. We still do not have confirmation that the country collects quality data, on the basis of which we could move forward with the introduction of the request that Montenegro submitted. First, we need to see if you have data, on the basis of which we could act," explained Lorkovski.
He stated that the letter states that setting the goals for 2030 is important because of the energy situation in the country, but that they first want to see the National Energy and Climate Plan, because that document explains how Montenegro will reach the goal by 2030. . year.
"This goal is now legally binding for Montenegro, but we don't know how you will do it, we don't even have information that you can't achieve it, because this document is still being prepared. In order to move forward, it is necessary to see that plan, in order to understand what are the options for reducing emissions, if there are other scenarios to reduce them. We want to see all these data, both LULUCF and scenarios, so that the discussion can continue," he pointed out and emphasized that they are trying to understand whether Montenegro has quality data for LULUCF, as well as what strategy is planned.
The results of REGAGEN are numerous
Lorkovski pointed out that the journey of REGAGEN has been going on for 20 years and that he believes that the future is very bright for Montenegro.
"There are numerous results, and you have succeeded in cooperating with the countries of the region, and we are all aware of those successes. Your electricity market has already received an invitation from the European Union, although it is not yet a member. This will require even stronger regulation, and the independence of REGAGEN is especially important. The agency has become a judge in the market, so you act through regulation and have authority. It is difficult for the judge to like him, but I hope you will win in entering the European Union and joining the European market," said Lorkovski.
Minister of Energy Saša Mujović stated that REGAGEN is the catalyst of the process in Montenegro, that with its establishment, a new era has begun and that it is a harbinger of change in the electric power system.
"Today, we have a big flywheel on the way to connect the market with the European one," he pointed out.
The president of the REGAGEN Board, Branislav Prelević, stated that the published monograph contains all the important facts from this sector, and that cooperation with the Ministry and the Energy Community were crucial.
"The work ethic and corporate culture we have built mean more to me than the results. We tried to ensure that the monograph maintains our identity," said Prelevic.
The first member of the REGAGEN Board, Branko Kotri, pointed out that the Agency has been working since 2003 and that it has positioned itself as an institution without which the functioning of this sector cannot be imagined.
"Extensive and complex tasks were carried out from the beginning by 58 employees, of whom today a third have master's degrees. Numerous results were achieved, and in particular, the price of electricity from domestic sources was harmonized with the market price, transmission and distribution activities were separated, incentives were provided to reduce losses in transmission and for investments in these two systems," added Kotri and pointed out that they solved numerous crises.
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