The Public Company for National Parks will once again take over the management of the assets of the bankrupt "Bajo Sekulić" saltworks for a certain period of time, while in the meantime a management structure is expected to be established that would then manage the oldest collective in Ulcinj.
This was confirmed to "Vijesti" by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development and the National Parks (NP).
"The Ministry of Ecology has prepared a proposal for the Government's consent to extend the Lease Agreement for the property of the Solana in bankruptcy, on which the Ministry of Finance has received a positive opinion. The proposal will be sent to the Government for further approval, after which the conditions for the lease and conclusion of a lease agreement with the bankruptcy administration and an agreement on the engagement of persons for the protection and preservation of this area will be met," the joint response of the Ministry and the NP states.
"Vijesti" previously announced that the lease agreement of NP, which has been managing the Solana property since 2015, expired on February 7 of this year.
According to unofficial information, the lease agreement should be concluded for several months, by which time a company should be formed that will take over the management of the saltworks property from the NP.
When asked whether NPs received money from the Government and paid rent to the bankruptcy administration, the answer was "that for the implementation of NP program activities, an amount has been allocated in the budget, which is paid in tranches in accordance with the signed agreement between the company and the relevant ministry."
"All employees of the NP are regularly paid their salaries. The temporary suspension of the Saltworks' rent will not negatively affect the rights arising from work and work-based rights of any engaged person," the response states.
He points out that at the working group meeting in Ulcinj on April 3, it was agreed that the Government and the Municipality would form a management structure as soon as possible, and that the conclusion was adopted that the Ministries of Ecology, Finance and the Municipality of Ulcinj would find the most adequate model, from the offered solutions, for the formation of a joint manager of the Ulcinjska Solana Nature Park as soon as possible.
“This represents a commitment from the Action Plan to meet the final benchmarks for Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change and its significance at the local, national and international levels,” the response states.
NPs manage all of Solana's assets based on the 2015 Lease Agreement, which was extended based on annexes concluded with the bankruptcy trustee.
"The formal and legal powers of the public company have not existed since the contract expired, that is, since February 7, 2025, but appreciating the importance of this unique space, the former employees of the Solana have continued with the activities and tasks of security, physical and technical protection of property and prevention of illegal actions at the Ulcinj Salt Pan. We certainly expect the formation of the management body of the Ulcinj Salt Pan Nature Park, which we consider an important step towards defining a permanent solution for the future of this protected area," they previously told "Vijesti" from the NPCG.
When it comes to forming a company that would manage the Saltworks, "Vijesti" previously reported that the Government and the Municipality of Ulcinj are negotiating on the topic, but that there are different views on possible management models.
Although the mayor of Ulcinj Genzi Nimanbeg At the time, he stated that his intention was for the new company to be formed by the end of last year, but that did not happen.
As planned, the Municipality of Ulcinj would be a co-owner with the Government in the newly formed company Nature Park "Ulcinj Saltworks".
The establishment of a company also requires the consent of the Government.
Back in 2021, the Municipality planned to take over the management of the Salt Pans from the National Parks, but gave up because it had not created the legal prerequisites to enter into that business at the time.
After the adoption of the decision at the session of the local parliament on June 24, 2019, Ulcinjska Solana was declared a protected area - Nature Park.
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