Rising Reinke: We want to be a partner in the development of the energy sector in Montenegro

The United States Government (US) wants to be a partner in the future development of the energy sector in Montenegro, said the US Ambassador to Podgorica, Judy Rising Reinke.

A delegation from the US Embassy in Montenegro, led by Rising Reinke, paid a working visit to the Piva HPP today.

As announced by the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG), Rising Reinke toured the facility and learned more about the current state and development plans of this significant hydropower facility.

At the Piva HPP, a multi-year modernization project that had been underway since 2005 was finalized last year, which included a thorough reconstruction of the control system, high and medium voltage switchgear, self-consumption and monitoring systems.

Also, the generators were revitalized and the block transformer on the A1 unit was replaced, and the capital overhaul of the transformer on the A2 unit was completed. In the coming period, the replacement of the transformer on the A3 unit is also planned, as well as the completion of the Power Plant air conditioning project.

EPCG stated in a statement that next year, the Piva HPP will celebrate five decades of successful operation, during which it produced and delivered around 367 thousand GWh of electricity to the Montenegrin energy system.

In a conversation with the management of EPCG, Rising Reinke also learned about the Company's key development projects, with a special emphasis on projects in the field of renewable energy sources (RES).

"Possibilities for potential US partnership and support in Montenegro were also discussed," the statement said.

The President of the Board of Directors of EPCG, Milutin Đukanović, thanked the US Embassy for its interest in projects that contribute to the energy stability and sustainability of Montenegro.

Đukanović recalled that EPCG has established cooperation with the renowned American company UGTR, which relates to the readiness for joint implementation of projects in the field of RES and in particular the construction of battery systems.

"We signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with UGTR. In the meantime, some legal solutions have been changed and the way has been opened for the concretization and dynamization of cooperation between our two companies," said Đukanović.

EPCG Executive Director Ivan Bulatović assessed the visit of US diplomatic representatives to Montenegro as a gesture of additional support in the implementation of projects in the field of RES and sustainable development, which are recognized as a priority part of the company's business policy.

Rising Reinke said that she is aware of the importance of the energy sector for the citizens of Montenegro and the Montenegrin economy and that, in this sense, the Government of AD wants to be a partner in successful cooperation and future development of, as she stated, the "blood system" of Montenegro.

She expressed her satisfaction that she had the opportunity to visit a hydropower facility such as the Piva HPP after six years of living in Montenegro.