The company "Montesalina", formerly "Solana L&L Company", which was previously interested in the lease of the Ulcinj Saltworks, applied for the revitalization of the company to a recently published public call for submission of business ideas to increase the sustainability of that area of the Nature Park.
This was confirmed by the executive director of "Montesaline" to "Vijesta". Adrian Gazivoda.
This public call was published by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, and offers can be submitted until January 14 of the following year.
"In this way, the company 'Montesalina' showed interest in preserving this historical and natural pearl. The goal of the initiative is to revive traditional salt production and ensure the sustainable development of this area, known for its cultural and ecological importance," said Gazivoda.
He reminded her that Solana has a decades-long tradition in the production of salt and that it is considered one of the key habitats for migratory birds.
"After years of inactivity, this public call represents an opportunity to restart production, while preserving natural resources and cultural identity," said Gazivoda.
The Ministry recently publicly invited all individuals and legal entities from the country and abroad to propose innovative ideas that will contribute to encouraging the production of salt and by-products in the traditional way, encouraging the diversification of local products related to salt production, encouraging other types of production complementary to salt production (using sea water and evaporation basins), preventing the spread of invasive plant and animal species, and their exploitation for economic purposes, preservation of halophytes, improvement of the existing industrial infrastructure, development of new contents in order to reuse the industrial infrastructure, restore and maintain the supply channel from Cape Đerana to Solana...
The aim of the call is to come up with ideas that will help the application of renewable and alternative energy sources in order to improve the efficiency of the pumps, develop sustainable offers for visitors with the offer of interpretation of nature and heritage in the area of the Nature Park, preserve and restore cultural heritage, landscapes such as calimere and other traditional local skills, the use of peloids (medicinal mud) for medical, therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, the preservation of ecosystems and protected species and habitats, education about nature protection and biological diversity and mitigating the effects of climate change environmental change...
Gazivoda pointed out that their business idea includes the modernization of the salt production process with strict adherence to the principles of sustainable development. The plan, as he said, envisages the creation of new jobs for the local population, as well as cooperation with environmental and tourist organizations in order to further promote the value of the Saltworks.
"This is a unique opportunity to combine tradition and innovation. Our goal is to turn the "Bajo Sekulić" Saltworks into an ecologically and economically significant center, which will bring benefits to both the community and nature," said Gazivoda.
He stated that the local authorities and the public are eagerly awaiting the results of that process, considering the importance of the revitalization of the Saltworks for the entire region.
"I expect that the selected ideas will be presented in the coming months," said Gazivoda.
In the invitation of the Ministry, it is reminded that the Nature Park of Ulcinjska solana is located on the site of a former lagoon and swamp in the Bojana delta and that the area is primarily important due to the great richness of biodiversity - numerous species and groups of birds, saline habitats with numerous halophytes.
The Ministry states that the Saltworks started operating in 1934, and that salt production stopped in 2013, and it is stated that the cessation of salt production, i.e. the cessation of regulation of the water regime in the area of the saltworks, threatens the entire ecosystem today.
The company "Montesalina", as "Vijesti" previously announced, wrote to the Commercial Court at the end of last year about its intention to lease the "Bajo Sekulić" Saltworks in Ulcinj for a long time. In case of a positive response, that company intended to start negotiations with the Government on taking over the oldest factory in Ulcinj for a minimum of 20 years.
Gazivoda then confirmed that he first sent the letter of intent to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the Government of Montenegro at the beginning of December last year, and that he received a response from the Ministry of Economic Development, headed by Nik Đeljošaj, ten days later.
Đeljošaj referred them to the bankruptcy trustee and the Commercial Court so that all subsequent possible decisions would be harmonized with the applicable laws and, of course, the opinion of the Commercial Court.
Bankruptcy in the company from Ulcinj was introduced in mid-2005, and after the failed reorganization plan, it has been in classic bankruptcy since 2011.
The public company for the management of national parks, in accordance with the decision of the Government, has been managing the oldest company in Ulcinj since August 2015, with the aim of protecting biodiversity.
The municipality of Ulcinj, which was supposed to take over the management of Solana in August 2022, gave up earlier because it did not create the legal prerequisites to enter into that business. The municipality has not established a management structure at Solana even to this day, although lately it has been doing everything to find a solution, despite having different views from the Government regarding the management model of the company.
Innovative approaches are needed in managing the area
The Ministry reminds that Solana occupies about 14,5 km² of salt pools, and the total area of the area is 14,77 km². It is surrounded by a channel that drains the surrounding swamps and "knetes", not allowing their water to mix with the salt water.
"Due to various pressures and threats, as well as the costs of maintaining a favorable state of biodiversity and habitats in the salt flats Nature Park, we need innovative approaches in the management of the area. That is why we want to strengthen cooperation with local communities and other actors in order to develop innovative solutions for sustainable resource management," the invitation reads.
It is added that it is divided into two categories - priority ideas that can alleviate the main threats (expensive maintenance of the water regime of the salt pan, invasive alien species, demanding rehabilitation of the salt pan infrastructure, weak tourist offer) and realize new sources of income and other ideas that contribute to the well-being of nature or improving biodiversity, without necessarily generating income.
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