In 43 years of operation, the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant (TPP) has produced and delivered nearly 45 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity to the Montenegrin power system, the Electric Power Company (EPCG) announced.
"Since its commissioning in 1982 until today, the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant has produced and delivered nearly 45 TWh of electricity to the Montenegrin power system and represents an indispensable segment not only of our company, but also of the entire power sector," said EPCG on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the operation of that unit.
They added that the focus for the last three and a half years has been on ecological reconstruction - a strategic project that seeks to extend the operating life of the TPP and meet the strict requirements of European directives in the field of environmental protection.
"Since the beginning of April, the plant has been offline due to final works, the dynamics of which are satisfactory, so it is expected that it will soon be reconnected to the system," EPCG said.
They said that for them, as a company, it is of utmost importance that the Pljevlja thermal power plant remains part of the production portfolio for as long as possible, because throughout all these decades, especially during periods of summer deficits when the average price of electricity on the stock exchanges exceeded the price at which it is delivered to households many times over, it has been shown how important energy from the only thermal power plant in the country is.
At the ceremony marking the Pljevlja TPP Day, the President of the Board of Directors of EPCG, Milutin Đukanović, recalled the importance of the investments that the EPCG group is implementing in the Pljevlja region.
"This year alone, we have work underway on the implementation of the ecological reconstruction project of the Pljevlja thermal power plant, the city's district heating system, as well as the relocation of Ćehotina. These are projects worth over 100 million euros, and if we consider our company's other ventures - from solar power plants, to the modernization of existing hydropower plants, to the Gvozd wind power plant and the Kruševo hydropower plant, it is clear that we are on the right track in the context of the energy transition, the purpose of which is to benefit both our company and citizens," said Đukanović.
Acting Executive Director of EPCG, Bojan Đordan, thanked all participants in the ecological reconstruction.
"The contribution of all employees and contractors is crucial to the success of this complex project. We are all aware of the importance of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant for our company and the country, so I am convinced that the completion of this project will contribute not only to the extension of the plant's operating life, but also to the development of the Montenegrin economy," said Đordan.
Technical Director of EPCG, Ljubiša Đurković, recalled that the decades-long existence of the Pljevlja TPP clearly testifies to the expertise, conscientiousness and high level of professionalism of the employees, emphasizing the importance of the ecological reconstruction project.
"This is a project of national importance, on which not only the stability of the electricity system depends, but also the economic stability of the state and a better life for the citizens of Pljevlja. This project shows that industry and ecology do not have to be in conflict - on the contrary, they can be perfectly harmonized and achieve a perfect balance," said Đurković.
Executive Manager of the Functional Unit (FC) Production, Miro Vračar, is convinced that the return of TPP Pljevlja to the system will significantly and positively affect the business results of EPCG.
"Throughout the decades, TPP Pljevlja has been a pillar of the power system. We are now in a key phase of ecological reconstruction, and the goal is clear – we must ensure the long-term operation of TPP Pljevlja, and all deadlines must be met in full. TPP Pljevlja employees are on the front line of quality control and I am sure that, thanks to their knowledge and experience, they will do everything to ensure that the project is implemented in the best possible way," added Vračar.
The manager of the Pljevlja TPP Branch, Žarko Ćaćić, stated that this energy facility is currently in the final phase of the most significant project in its history.
"This very complex project includes the ecological reconstruction of the block, the adaptation of the boiler and chimney, and the construction of a 2,3 thousand meter long primary heating pipeline for the heating needs of Pljevlja," Ćaćić specified.
The district heating project manager, Veselin Sekulić, recalled the importance of this process for the electricity sector and environmental protection.
As he explained, the district heating system is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works and the Municipality of Pljevlja.
"We have already completed the main project, which is 6,3 kilometers long, and we have also completed the implementation of the first phase, which is 2,3 kilometers long. The second and third phases will be implemented by our partners, and upon completion of the process, we expect huge benefits for the citizens of Pljevlja, in terms of solving a decades-old problem that has greatly complicated life in this city," said Sekulić.
In the coming period, the unit will undergo test operation, elimination of possible irregularities and warranty measurements of project parameters.
The company believes that, after that, they will have reliable and stable operation of the plant - for the benefit of the Montenegrin power system and all our citizens.
The Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant Day was also an opportunity to present certificates of appreciation to the best workers of the Pljevlja thermal power plant.
This recognition, according to the assessment of colleagues and the management of the power plant, was earned this year by laboratory analyst Dragojla Nenadić, block machinist Darko Purić, electrical works specialist Ivan Starovlah, electrician Amer Drnda, and mechanical works specialist Dragan Babić.
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