Three main problems at the Kolašin state ski resort - a crooked pole on the K7 cable car, the installation of an artificial snow system, and the ski slope lighting project - will not be implemented during this ski season.
This was stated in the 2025-2026 Winter Tourist Season Preparation Plan, which the Government adopted on Thursday.
No funds have yet been secured for the repair of the crooked pole, and only then should a public procurement be announced in order for the works to begin. The project documentation for the water supply system needed for artificial snowmaking is still being prepared, and the money for the works has not yet been secured, while the project task for lighting the ski slopes was completed in July this year, but the public procurement has not been announced.
The only thing that is certain is that the artificial snow-making system at the Žabljak ski resort "Savin Kuk" could be operational in December, on a 600-meter-long slope...
"The winter tourist season represents an important segment of Montenegro's tourist offer and has a significant impact on the economic development of the northern region. Previous seasons have shown that due to pronounced climate change, it is not possible or very difficult to make forecasts of what the season will be like, given that the winter tourist season is primarily based on the operation of ski resorts. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an offer that will enable ski resorts and catering facilities in the north to generate income even in situations where there is no snowfall," it was stated in the introduction to the preparation plan.
The K7 cable car cost 9 million euros and connects the state and private ski resorts on Bjelasica. If it is not working, practically half of the state ski resort's slopes are out of service. The six-seater cable car has a capacity of 2600 skiers per hour, and it began operating in February 2022. However, during work on the neighboring private plots of the "Kolašin 1450" Ski Center in 2024, a landslide occurred and pillar number 4 became unstable, which is why the cable car was not in operation last winter, and it looks like it will be the same this winter.
On June 10, 2024, the inspection ordered the investor of the private ski resort "Kolašin 1450" to ensure the safety and stability of the pillar within 12 days, which has not happened so far.
Bećirović says the repair was expensive, so the state will step in
The plan states that representatives of the state-owned company Ski Resorts of Montenegro communicated with representatives of the private ski resort "Ski resort - Kolašin 1450" during 2024 and 2025. Zoran Ćoć Bećirović and that a meeting regarding the crooked and unsafe pillar was organized on August 1st of this year, which was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Tourism.
"Representatives of 'Ski resort - Kolašin 1450' informed the Ministry of Tourism about the status of the rehabilitation, as well as the funds spent so far on its implementation, and pointed out that the tender procedure for selecting a contractor for the rehabilitation of the pillar is underway, and that it was challenging to come up with adequate offers, especially considering the specificity of the work required. They informed that 'Ski resort - Kolašin 1450' has so far obtained offers from two contractors ('BBR systems' and 'UCC Montecop'), and that the third offer is expected to be received by August 11. At the end of August (28.08.2025) 'Ski resort - Kolašin 1450' informed that the selection of the contractor has not been completed due to the difference in the price of the received offers and the estimated value given in the main project," the plan states.
Since the private ski resort did not conduct a selection of bidders, the Ministry of Tourism states that they got involved in order to ensure the smooth running of the winter tourist and sports and recreational season on Bjelasica.
"The procedure for securing funds for the rehabilitation of the pillar has been initiated (in the amount of the listed offers, and after additional market analysis for the performance of specific works on the rehabilitation of the landslide and the retaining wall), so that urgent procurement by the Ski Resort of Montenegro can be carried out, the start and completion of the works," the plan states, without specifying the deadlines for when all these prerequisites for the start of the works could be met.
They're just asking for money for snowmaking.
A similar situation exists with the long-announced project to provide artificial snow for part of the state-run ski resort “Kolašin 1600”. The plan states that the Ministry of Tourism has undertaken activities to determine whether there are prerequisites for providing an alternative water supply for the snowmaking system, in order to enable the winter tourist season to take place in the absence of snowfall.
"As two new ski lifts have been built at the ski center, activities have been undertaken to engage experts to conduct tests that will determine whether there are prerequisites for providing sufficient water to form a smaller reservoir, which would be sufficient to power modern technological installations for snow production that would snow the base plateau of the "Kolašin 1600" ski resort, where there is a ski slope for children and beginners, as well as part of the trail along the new ski lift. It is important to note that the system would be complementary to the future wider artificial snow system that will be implemented after the construction of the water supply to the Kolašin ski resorts is completed. Activities have been initiated with the aim of ensuring the conditions for the implementation of the 2025/2026 winter season at the state ski resort," the plan states.
It was stated that the Ministry of Tourism has prepared a hydrotechnical study for the needs of the "Kolašin 1600" Ski Center, with the aim of determining the current state of captured springs and determining the possibility of providing the necessary amount of water for the artificial snowmaking system.
The study, submitted to the Ministry in early June this year, recommended the rehabilitation of the catchment of all analyzed sources and the construction of a new pipeline, and it was concluded that the water supply of the tourist center could be provided from the analyzed sources (6 sources), in full during certain periods of the year, while partially during the summer and winter seasons, and the excess water could be used to fill the reservoir from which part of the slopes would be snowed for the beginning of the ski season.
"The preparation of project documentation for the rehabilitation of the existing system that supplies the "Kolašin 1600" Ski Center with water has also begun, and the main project was submitted to the Ministry in September. The Ministry of Tourism has initiated the procedure for securing funds for the rehabilitation and improvement of the existing water supply infrastructure and the procurement of modern technological installations for snow production in the event of a lack of natural snowfall. However, the funds have not yet been secured," the plan states.
Lighting project completed in July, but no procurement has been announced
The project to illuminate ski slopes along the "plate" and "anchor" type ski lifts is also stalled.
"In order to improve the tourist offer at the state ski resort, the Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with the Ski Resorts of Montenegro, has initiated the procedure for preparing project documentation (term of reference) for lighting ski slopes next to the 'anchor' and 'plate' ski lifts at the state ski resort 'Kolašin 1600', which envisages the preparation of technical documentation at the level of conceptual design and main project for the construction of new facilities for lighting ski slopes next to the ski lifts, as well as their construction according to the 'design and build' principle, with an estimated value of 1,2 million euros excluding VAT," the plan states.
The project terms of reference with the decision to determine the location with elements of the UT conditions and for the construction of a local facility of general interest were submitted to the Ministry of Public Works on July 17 of this year "for further action (public procurement announcement)".
"However, the public procurement has not yet been announced," the plan states, without explaining why or when it will be.
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