Private power plants are still debating whether to help the state

The majority of privileged electricity producers - private owners of small hydro and wind power plants - did not submit offers for the possible sale of their electricity in the next year to the Electric Industry (EPCG) by November 25, but requested additional deadlines due to consultations with foreign co-owners, the Ministry of Energy informed "Vijesta" .

As stated by this department, while waiting for a possible agreement with the owners of private power plants, the state-owned Elektroprivreda will continue with the planned procurement of the missing amounts of electricity.

According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", the most important are the offers of the wind power plants "Možura" and "Krnovo", which are awaiting a statement. They have more than 300 GWh.

The largest Montenegrin producer of electricity, Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja, will not work from the beginning of April until the middle of November next year, due to the completion of ecological reconstruction. The ministry's plan was to provide part of that missing amount of electricity from private power plants at market prices as they are in Montenegro, and in return to extend their status as privileged producers for a year, within which they are entitled to incentive measures.

The problem is that the price of electricity on international exchanges is now two to three times more expensive than the price at which EPCG sells that electricity to its consumers, and the state energy company must also pay for transmission capacities in order to import that electricity to Montenegro.

In that period, Montenegro may lack up to 750 GWh of electricity, while private power plants produce around 450 GWh annually. If EPCG had to buy most of the missing electricity at significantly higher prices on the market, there could be an increase in electricity prices for consumers from April.

"A small number of electricity producers from the category of so-called of privileged producers responded to the request of the Ministry of Energy, while most producers of energy from renewable sources have not yet submitted answers in the form of an offer as requested at the meeting. The reason for prolonging the submission of bids, according to their claims, is the longer deadlines necessary for decision-making since the founders of some of the energy producers are foreign legal entities and they need a certain amount of time to make decisions in accordance with their intercompany procedures. You will certainly be informed of the offers in a timely manner as soon as the Ministry of Energy receives them", it was stated from this department of the minister Saša Mujović to the questions of "Vijesti", how many producers have sent answers, what is the proposed purchase price and how much electricity can be provided with this.

On November 11, Mujović had a meeting with representatives of the owners of private power plants, and as it was announced then, the deadline for submitting offers was supposed to be November 25. However, EPCG is important every day in order to obtain the missing quantities because there are still four months left until the break in the operation of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant.

"Regardless of the answer, EPCG will continue with the planned purchases of the missing electricity, observing some unwritten rules and patterns of experience in which period of the year is the best time to buy the largest amount of electricity. The Ministry of Energy will closely monitor the development of the situation and, if necessary (poor hydrology, high market price, etc.), take adequate measures. We believe that we have enough capacity in the energy sector to preserve energy stability and security in addition to the numerous challenges we expect in 2025", the Ministry stated.

The Ministry of Energy will closely monitor the development of the situation and, if necessary (poor hydrology, high market price, etc.), take adequate measures. We believe that we have enough capacity in the energy sector to preserve energy stability and security in addition to the numerous challenges we expect in 2025, said the department.

After the meeting on November 11, Mujović said that privileged producers annually produce close to 450 GWh of electricity and that this would be a significant source if that energy were delivered to Elektroprivreda on favorable terms.

"As is well known to the Montenegrin public, privileged producers have a pre-defined price of electricity and the obligation of the state to purchase everything they produce. If we manage to encourage that price to be acceptable and significantly lower than what is defined in the letter of the contract, it would be a benefit for the state, EPCG and a good way to overcome the year 2025 without major consequences", said Mujović.

As announced at the time, the minister called on the representatives of private power plants to contribute to overcoming energy challenges in the coming year through a concrete socially responsible attitude towards the state.

If EPCG had to buy most of the missing electricity at significantly higher prices on the market, there could be an increase in electricity prices for consumers from April

Among the privileged producers are two large private wind power plants in Možura and Krnovo, 32 small hydropower plants and five solar power plants. Some of them are litigating with the state because their contract for some other small hydropower plants was terminated or because of the protests of citizens and environmental activists they could not build them, while the Special State Prosecutor's Office is still investigating the affair related to the construction of the Možura wind power plant.