Coal mine builds solar power plant worth around 40 million

The Pljevlja Coal Mine (RUP) is embarking on an ambitious investment venture in the field of renewable energy, announcing the construction of a solar power plant worth tens of millions of euros and a mini-hydroelectric power plant at a dam in the village of Durutovići. These projects represent an important part of the broader Just Transition Strategy, through which RUP seeks to transform its role and ensure sustainable operations in an era of gradual decarbonization and the abandonment of coal as the primary energy source in Montenegro.

As confirmed to "Vijesti" by the executive director of RUP Nemanja Laković, a solar power plant is planned in the “Potrlica” coal mine complex, on 63 hectares of land, with a nominal capacity of 81,1 megawatts. The investment, whose total value is currently estimated at around 40 million euros, will also include battery systems for energy storage, further strengthening the energy stability and efficiency of the future power plant.

"RUP plans significant investments in renewable energy sources with the aim of exploiting the potential, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and supporting Montenegro's energy transition. As part of the Just Transition Plan through Business Transformation, it plans to build a solar power plant," said Laković.

The mine has received the necessary permits, and the Government has issued urban planning and technical requirements for the development of technical documentation for the solar power plant. The power plant would have a nominal capacity of 81,1 megawatts, and would be built in the coal mine and thermal power plant complex in the cadastral municipality of Ilino Brdo I, on part of the “Potrlica” coal mine, on an area of almost 63 hectares.

The study submitted as part of the project states that the connection capacity, or the maximum power that the solar power plant can deliver to the grid, is 62,5 megawatts.

"It should certainly be borne in mind that only with the development of the main project and the final techno-economic analysis will the real power, and thus the investment value of the planned solar power plant, be defined. This is the first step, after which we will begin creating other prerequisites for the implementation of the project. The company's officials are working on developing the necessary documents and defining the specifications of this project, including the possibility of installing battery systems for energy storage," said Laković.

According to current estimates, the total investment value would be around 500.000 euros per megawatt, which amounts to a total of around forty million euros. Additional costs will include the procurement and installation of battery systems for energy storage.

The director of the largest Pljevlja company says that the project is planned to be completed next year, by the end of the construction season.

"In the coming period, a tender is expected to be announced for the development of project documentation, which will define technical solutions and further steps for connection to the electricity grid," said Laković.

Laković said that in addition to this project, the company also plans to build a mini hydroelectric power plant in the village of Durutovići on a dam that Rudnik built about fifteen years ago to divert the Ćehotina riverbed. Rudnik had to build a dam in Durutovići to divert the river from its previous course, build two tunnels, as well as two concrete channels through which the Ćehotina currently flows. This project cost the Pljevlja-based company more than 20 million euros.

By returning the Ćehotina to its approximately natural course, the current role of the "Durutovići" dam will cease, and the possibility of utilizing its potential for the construction of a mini hydroelectric power plant for the production of electricity will be created.

Work is underway on the construction of a new riverbed for the Ćehotina River, and the project envisages a location for the future hydroelectric power plant.

"The installed capacity of the Durutovići hydroelectric power plant would be 2,2 megawatts. Technical documentation has already been prepared for this small hydroelectric power plant, which has created the prerequisites for the implementation of the project," said Laković.

He explained that upon completion of the relocation of the Ćehotina riverbed, the project for the small power plant will be aligned with the actual situation on the ground, after which it will be known how much the investment will cost.

As part of the Just Transition Plan, which involves the gradual abandonment of coal as an energy source, Rudnik plans to single out ten companies that will operate on a market basis.

One of these companies will be a construction group, which has already been formed and which performs work for RUP, Elektroprivreda and participates in tenders for the performance of various construction works.

RUP plans to open a factory for the production of HTZ equipment, for which they have already rented space from the Castelo Montenegro company in the Pljevlja settlement of Radosavac. The space is currently being adapted, where, in addition to the factory for the production of HTZ equipment, the RUP warehouse will also be relocated, which is currently located in a residential building that the company built a few years ago on the site of a former mining workshop.

"The opening of a factory for the production of HTZ equipment is part of the just transition plan through RUP's business transformation. This is a concept that we have recognized so that after the cessation of coal exploitation in Pljevlja, we would have the opportunity for people to remain in their jobs," the Mine recently announced.

The largest company in Pljevlja claims that market analysis has shown that opening a HTZ equipment factory is justified.

"RUP annually procures HTZ equipment, of all types, worth around 800 thousand euros. We detected the possibility of making serious savings based on the production that we would launch internally in the company. In the first period, production would be based on the textile program, and by establishing a unit for the production of HTZ equipment, we would cover that need in this first period. By launching that plant, we would save jobs," RUP points out.

The state-owned company did not say how many workers will be employed in the new factory, except that some of the workers who were interested will be retrained for these jobs, and these jobs will be managed by people with many years of experience in the production process. In the future, RUP plans to expand production to other markets.

Asphalt from Bušanj for the market and construction sites

As part of the just transition plan, the state-owned company recently leased an asphalt base from the bankruptcy administration of the company "Vektra Jakić", in the village of Bušnje, Pljevlja, and after it is renovated, it should start operating soon.

The base is leased for a period of fourteen months with a monthly fee of 10,5 thousand euros, and the costs of repairs will be deducted from the lease.

The Mine's long-term plans include purchasing an asphalt base when the conditions are right.

By returning the Ćehotina to its approximately natural course, the current role of the 'Durutovići' dam will cease, and the possibility of exploiting its potential for the construction of a mini hydroelectric power plant for the production of electricity will be created.

The sale of asphalt to other customers is planned, as well as for work to be carried out by the Rudnik Uglja construction group.

The asphalt base in the village of Bušnje was built in 1984, and operated without major problems until 2009, when a general overhaul of the facility was carried out.

The mine expects the asphalt base to produce 30 to 35 tons of asphalt per hour. In the future, the mine plans to purchase paver and trucks so that they can also perform asphalt installation work.

It is also planned to "launch" the Transport Working Unit with over 60 trucks onto the market, as well as a laboratory, cleaning and security service.

Laković previously said that Rudnik Uglja is interested in taking over Vektra Jakić, the largest wood processing company in northern Montenegro, where production was suspended at the end of 2018. Vektra Jakić is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.