After 65 years of operation, HPP Perućica received an operating permit

The Perućica Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), one of the foundations of the Montenegrin power system, after 65 years of continuous operation, based on a construction permit from 1953, has finally received an operating permit, the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) announced.

"It may sound strange, but this news is evidence that sometimes institutions work slowly, but they still get there. After all, what is six and a half decades in the life of a hydroelectric power plant? Why did it take so long and why has there been no commitment to this important document until now," EPCG said in a statement.

The company said that, in any case, they owe gratitude to numerous actors who, each in their own way, contributed to the successful completion of this process, despite numerous administrative, technical, and historical layers.

"We particularly appreciate the understanding that the competent institutions have shown towards the fact that the documentation was created back in the days when drawings were made with ink and a ruler, and the regulations date back to 1952," the statement said.

EPCG said that enormous gratitude also belongs to their current management and executive structure, whose systematic and dedicated work has enabled this important step to finally be realized. With the selfless efforts of the engineering staff, with the help of the teams from FC Proizvodnja and the archival dedication of colleagues from the EPCG legal department, they managed to round off a legal story that, obviously, had more patience than all of us.

"The operating permit for the Perućica HPP is not just an administrative formality - it is a key document that provides legal certainty for the future operation of the plant and the acquisition of a License for the production of electricity," the statement said.

They stated that, although they had been producing energy for decades without it, they are now doing so with an official usage permit – which is certainly worth mentioning.

"We thank everyone who, with their work, knowledge, experience and patience, contributed to making this important moment part of our company's history," the statement concludes. (end) sam/nar