With the laying of the foundation stone on the Krnovska plateau, the construction of the "Gvozd" Wind Power Plant (VE) was officially started, the construction of which will cost 82 million euros, and the work will be carried out by a consortium led by the company "Nordex". The installed power of the future facility, which should be completed in 18 months, is 54,6 megawatts (MW), and the future VE "Gvozd" will annually produce about 150 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity and will cover the needs of 25.000 households.
The project, which is implemented through the project company "Green Gvozd" and will be 100 percent owned by the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG), will be financed from a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with which a loan agreement was signed in June last year. without the anticipated participation of investors, with a corresponding grace period during construction so that the project will essentially pay for itself.
According to the Minister of Energy Saša Mujović, the construction of VE "Gvozd" represents a new page in Montenegrin history in the creation of new values for generations to come.
"Our key task is the implementation of the energy transition, and it cannot be implemented through passivity and through almost 40 years of abstinence from the construction of production capacities, nor through the poor use of the potential of the sun and wind. The energy transition requires courage, dynamism and what is demonstrated by the agile management of EPCG" , said Mujović.
He reminded that the contract on the construction of the eighth unit of HPP "Perućica" had been signed, and that other projects would follow, and that "yesterday, today and tomorrow, a real revolution in the use of solar energy is on the scene".
"I can announce the imminent implementation of an electrical energy storage system that will further utilize the potential of solar and wind energy. I don't know if we are aware, but in the past year, through these projects, we have practically replaced more than 60 percent of the capacity of the Pljevlja TPP. Let it be an identity card of our work in the previous period," Mujović pointed out.
According to him, VE "Gvozd" is an important project and a way "to get closer to developed Europe and to fulfill what they ask of us".
"We are taking strong big steps towards the final, and I consider the final to be the construction of a large power plant such as HPP 'Kruševo' and I firmly believe that in the next two years we will start that project as well, let this be our legacy to future generations and a wind at our backs," he announced. Mujović.
The President of the Board of Directors of EPCG, Milutin Đukanović, said that in parallel with VE "Gvozd" they are also developing the project "Iron 2", whose power will be 21 MW.
"In the coming period, we will create hundreds and hundreds of new megawatts of electricity sources. And no one should ask us why we are hiring. We will hire even more because these are profitable projects. And what is the essence of life - to have good projects, and to employ those projects our citizens so that they don't leave Montenegro," said Đukanović.
He pointed out that he believes that the first megawatt hours of electricity from the "Gvozd" VE will be at the end of next year, as well as that the Solari 5000+ project will be completed by July 1, 2025.
"This means that already then we will have 100 MWh of solar power plants on the roofs of our consumers. EPCG's business philosophy is produce where you spend, and that is the victory of the green economy. Our second business philosophy is that we have to save our water and when we have enough sun we don't we are allowed to use water. Water is dry gold in energy. Montenegro is lucky that even when the sun is warm, we can produce electricity when it rains and when the wind blows. The development of energy is a historic opportunity for Montenegro EPCG will do everything not to miss this chance," said Đukanović and announced more new projects.
"With the beginning of the construction of VE 'Gvozd', a new, modern history of the Montenegrin power company is being written. The expected production of the wind power plant is about 150 GWH of clean green energy, which will certainly contribute to a better energy balance of the Montenegrin system and EPCG. This energy will also make our product, electricity , more competitive on the market because in our production portfolio we will also get what is called energy from a wind farm... With this wind farm, we are trying to overcome the energy transition as calmly as possible, which is an inevitable, unstoppable process, and I think that EPCG will emerge from this energy transition as a winner because saw in the energy transition its chance and focus for investing in renewable sources of electricity," said the executive director of EPCG, Ivan Bulatović.
The President of the Municipality of Nikšić, Marko Kovačević, said that the start of work on the construction of the wind farm "Gvozd" is not just another construction project, but also a symbol of progress, vision and determination to "build a sustainable future for generations to come".
"This is the first new large state producer of electricity since 1982, when the Thermal Power Plant in Pljevlja was opened, and it shows that we are ready to abandon old models and invest in renewable energy sources," Kovačević said.
According to him, the construction of VE "Gvozd" for Nikšić means much more than a power plant - new jobs, improvement of local infrastructure and strengthening of economic potential.
"Which is a confirmation that our city can and should be a center of innovation, development and energy transition. 'Gvozd' is just one of a series of projects that we implement with the aim of improving life in our city and throughout Montenegro. Along with investments in energy, we also on the development of transport infrastructure, education, health and other areas that directly affect the quality of life of our citizens. The future we are creating together is a future in which Nikšić and Montenegro will be recognized for their strength, innovation and responsibility towards nature is proof that we can, know and want to move forward", said Kovačević.
Remon Zakaria, head of the EBRD office in Montenegro, said that the energy sector is key to the overall development and progress of the Montenegrin economy, and that the VE "Gvozd" is a large and significant project for that institution.
"Thanks to the implementation of another important project, the submarine cable with Italy, Montenegro will be able to export and market electricity to Europe, which is very important for the overall diversification of the economy and the increase of the entire GDP of Montenegro and at the same time the greening of Montenegrin energy and compliance with all protection standards environment", said Zakaria.
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