The contractor for the relocation of the Ćehotina River has completed all planned construction works on the new riverbed, while the formal technical inspection and handover of the project have not yet been completed.
This was officially stated to “Vijesti” from Rudnik Uglja (RUP).
The company states that specialized procedures are underway to extract fish from the tunnel of the old riverbed, as well as final coordination regarding the safe redirection of the river flow into the new riverbed.
"Only upon completion of these activities will the contractor begin closing the tunnel through which the Ćehotina River currently flows," replied RUP, whose executive director is Nemanja Laković.
According to currently available information, the river is expected to flow in its new bed by the end of the year, while the precise date will depend on the completion of inspections and a formal review of the completed works.
The Ćehotina has been flowing for 18 years in a concrete bed and through two tunnels in the section through the Pljevlja Plain, and was relocated for the first time due to large coal reserves along its natural course.
Project of public interest
The Mine reminds that by relocating the river, or returning it approximately along its old route, conditions are created for coal exploitation until 2049.
If this had not been done this year, the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant would have stopped, which would have had catastrophic consequences for the energy system, and the relocation of the river was necessary due to the progress of mining works towards the existing Ćehotina riverbed.
The government declared the project a matter of public interest in July last year.
Rudnik previously explained that the reinforced concrete works at the Durutovići dam have been completed, and the space for the future small 2,2 megawatt hydroelectric power plant has been prepared. The pipeline for this project has already been installed as part of the Ćehotine project, and all works are being carried out in accordance with the just transition plan, which is in line with the recommendations of the European Union.
In the coming period, works are planned on the construction of two roads, promenades and green areas in the area around the new Ćehotina riverbed, so that the people of Pljevlja can enjoy this part of the city in the future.
"In the last year and a half, the new management, in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro and the relevant ministry, who recognized the seriousness of the problem, has managed to obtain permission to begin work on the most important project in the country, achieve significant savings by carrying out the work in-house, and introduce the contractor to the job," the Coal Mine previously announced.
The works, worth 19,56 million euros including VAT, were carried out by the Consortium HSV Company for Hydroconstruction and Civil Engineering and Building Construction from Vlasotince, "Opticus ing" from Belgrade and the Company for Design, Engineering and Construction of Works "Kolubara" from Mionica.
According to the contract, which "Vijesti" has access to, the consortium was supposed to complete the work within 210 calendar days, from the date the contractor was introduced to the job, with the obligation of a warranty period of at least 24 months after technical acceptance, with the possibility of extending the warranty up to 60 months. The contract was signed on April 16, and the contractor was supposed to be introduced to the job ten days later.
Direct contract for construction supervision
In addition to this Consortium, another consortium applied for the international tender, which Rudnik announced at the end of last year, but the commission excluded it from the public procurement procedure due to, as explained, incomplete documentation on the fulfillment of the conditions for the economic entity's ability stipulated in the tender documentation.
In parallel with the main tender, two more procedures were announced on December 31st, for expert supervision of the works, worth 605 thousand euros, and for renting machinery for preparatory works. Four bids were received for the supervision tender, including joint applications from several regional companies.
In October, according to the documentation available to "Vijesti", Rudnik annulled the public procurement procedure and excluded all tender participants from the public procedure. Due to an appeal filed against the decision to annul the public procurement procedure of October 7, Rudnik issued a notice ten days later to discontinue any further action in the public procurement procedure for this service.
After the tender for the selection of the supervisory company was annulled, RUP took advantage of the legal possibility of direct negotiations and hired the company "POP Projekt" from Podgorica, explaining that it was a job of national importance and that repeating the tender would lead to further delays.
The company told "Vijesti" that this solution ensured continuity of supervision, faster decision-making in the field, and certain financial savings compared to the original tender estimate.
"When it comes to professional supervision, it is also carried out in accordance with the project plan and is carried out by the company 'POP Projekt' doo Podgorica. As is known, during the tender procedure for this job, there was an appeal in accordance with the tender procedure. Bearing in mind that this is one of the most important projects in Montenegro, with a significantly shortened deadline for its implementation, i.e. the construction season in 2025, we exercised our legal right and selected the aforementioned company for professional supervision in a direct agreement. In this way, not only have we achieved a defined dynamics in the implementation of the project with the highest level of expertise and responsibility, but we have also achieved significant savings in the company that were originally planned in the tender," claim the largest company from Pljevlja.
The mine itself carried out works worth four million euros
Last year, the coal mine independently carried out work worth around four million euros, in order to reduce the costs of the Ćehotina riverbed relocation project.
"In the period before and during the tender procedures for this project, the Coal Mine used its machinery to excavate a new bed, 2.300 meters long, which is 5 to 5,5 meters deep, and the excess mass was removed from the right and left sides of the bank, which ensured a stable base for further construction work. Also, the drilling and mining works were completed within the planned deadline, and it was ensured that the contractor could complete his part of the work without obstacles. All of this means that the workers of the Coal Mine, by carrying out these rough works, saved the company almost four million euros, with a high level of expertise, responsibility and conscientiousness," the Mine pointed out.
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