The Ministry of Energy and Mining today presented the draft Green Hydrogen Development Program, the first strategic document of its kind in the region, which, they said, positions Montenegro as an active player in the European energy transition.
The relevant Minister, Admir Šahmanović, said that Montenegro not only follows European and global trends, but also has the ambition to be among the countries setting them.
"Green hydrogen is gaining increasing importance across Europe and the world. Today we are showing that we have the knowledge, vision and commitment to be part of that change," said Šahmanović.
He said, as announced by the Ministry of Energy and Mining, that the document is the result of expert analysis and a broad consultative process.
It is stated that the Green Hydrogen Development Program is fully aligned with the National Energy and Climate Plan and European goals.
"Its purpose is to enable safer, cleaner and more efficient use of energy in all sectors: industry, transport, heating and balancing the system with more and more renewable sources," the statement said.
The Director General of the Directorate for Oil and Gas, Zorana Sekulić, speaking about green hydrogen, stated that it is an energy carrier that can significantly contribute to the decarbonization of sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industry and transport.
"It also enables the storage of surplus energy from RES and its later use," added Sekulić.
She said that the Program defines goals until 2030, 2040 and 2050, provides a clear action plan, and offers a framework for regulatory, infrastructure and market development.
The statement states that green hydrogen is the energy source of the future, the only byproduct of its use is water.
Montenegro, it is added, has great potential for its development, thanks to solar and wind resources.
"Hydrogen is key for energy storage and decarbonization of sectors that are difficult to electrify. Worldwide, less than four percent of hydrogen is currently "green," and over 95 percent comes from fossil fuels, which opens up room for growth. State support and investments are needed to boost domestic production and reduce costs," the statement added.
The Ministry said that the Draft Program was developed with the support of the German Organization for International Cooperation, and the implementation was carried out by an experienced and highly qualified consulting team that, through detailed analysis and a multidisciplinary approach, created a content-rich and high-quality document.
The adoption of the document is planned for the last quarter of this year, as part of the commitments from the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, the Sofia Declaration, and the Paris Agreement.
"We believe that only through open dialogue and joint work can we create smart and sustainable solutions for Montenegro," the message from the event said.
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