Boilers are becoming history: Pljevlja district heating project in the final phase of implementation

The Pljevlja district heating project, one of the most significant infrastructural and environmental undertakings in the history of the city, after more than 40 years of planning and numerous failed attempts, is finally entering the final phase of implementation.

At the presentation held in Pljevlja, the district heating manager Veselin Sekulić, he recalled that over the past decades there have been several ideas and projects, but none could be realized due to the lack of a backup heat source.

"For the first time, we have a complete system. We have a base heat source in the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, a backup source through the starting boiler room, a primary heating pipeline and prepared projects for the future secondary network. The lack of a backup source was the reason why district heating could not be implemented for decades," said Sekulić.

As part of the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, the construction of a pumping and heat exchange station has been completed, which represent the basis of the future district heating system.

According to Sekulić, a pumping station with a complete pumping system has been built, which will enable the distribution of hot water from the thermal power plant to the city. At the same time, a heat exchange station with a capacity of 44 megawatts, consisting of two exchangers with a power of 22 megawatts each, has been completed.

"These facilities are already in the trial phase and represent the heart of the future heating system. Thermal energy produced in the thermal power plant will be converted into hot water that will reach end users through the heating pipeline," explained Sekulić.

It was particularly emphasized that all future users will be connected to an energy source that meets modern European environmental standards, because after the ecological reconstruction, the thermal power plant has systems for purifying sulfur and nitrogen oxides, as well as powdery substances.

One of the most important segments of the project is the construction of a backup heat source.

Within the existing Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant complex, two boilers with a capacity of 16 megawatts each have been installed, which will serve as a backup source of heating in situations when the thermal power plant is not operating due to repairs or possible malfunctions.

"That's the question that citizens most often ask, what happens when the thermal power plant stops? That's why a backup system was built that can take over the city's heat supply. The boilers run on fuel oil, have purification systems, and are designed according to modern standards," said Sekulić.

A large part of the presentation was dedicated to the construction of the primary heating pipeline that will connect the thermal power plant with the city. The first phase of the heating pipeline, 2,3 kilometers long, has already been completed, and work is currently underway on the second and third phases, totaling 4,4 kilometers. The total length of the route is about 6,7 kilometers, while the actual amount of installed pipes is almost twice as large, as the system consists of a supply and return pipeline.

Work is currently being carried out at several locations in the city, including the area along the Breznica River, Milo Peruničića and Pavla Bulatovića streets.

The contractor is a consortium led by the company "Intermost", and the contracted deadline for completion of the works is April 2027.

"The contractor has expressed optimism and estimates that the works could be completed by November 2026. However, this is a very complex project and it is more realistic to expect the system to be ready for full function during the 2027/2028 heating season," said Sekulić.

In parallel with the construction of the heating pipeline, preparations are underway to transform the existing city boiler houses into substations. The nine largest boiler houses in the city will be reconstructed and connected to the new heating system. Of particular importance is the boiler house in Skerlićeva Street, which will become the central distribution and control point of the entire system.

"The boilers and existing equipment will be removed, and the space will be reconstructed and converted into a modern control center with a system for monitoring and managing the entire network," it was announced during the presentation. The shutdown of the existing coal-fired boiler rooms is expected to significantly reduce emissions of harmful substances and improve air quality in the city center.

Representative of the Municipality of Pljevlja Jasmin Celebic He explained that after the completion of the primary network, the development of a secondary network will follow, which will enable the connection of residential and commercial buildings.

According to a study conducted back in 2019, the city is divided into 24 consumption zones that will gradually be connected to the system.

"The entire city cannot be connected at once. It is necessary to set priorities and expand the network in phases. The locations of future substations and the directions for developing the secondary network have already been defined," said Čelebić.

Manager of the Municipality of Pljevlja Ljiljana Đondović She emphasized the importance of the study funded by the World Bank, which should define the long-term future of the heating system in Pljevlja.

The study will not only analyze the existing district heating project, but also the possibilities of using renewable energy sources after the possible shutdown of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant.

"This study represents the basis for future investments and withdrawal of funds from European funds. It will define whether certain parts of the city will use the central system or local energy sources, as well as which technologies will be applied after the thermal power plant ceases to operate," said Đondović.

According to her, the study is expected to be completed during the summer, followed by the preparation of a feasibility study that will serve as the basis for applying for European funds.

Sekulić stated that more than 20 million euros have been invested in the district heating project so far.

The Electric Power Company of Montenegro financed the construction of a base and backup heat source, pumping and heat exchanger stations, as well as a project for regulated steam extraction from the turbine, while the Government of Montenegro, the Ministry of Public Works and the Municipality of Pljevlja provided funds for the construction of a heating pipeline and supporting infrastructure.

"Money is no longer a problem. What is needed now is good coordination between all institutions in order to develop the secondary network as soon as possible and enable the connection of as many citizens as possible," said Sekulić.

Director of the company "Heating" Vlade Tošić He appealed to the Ministry of Ecology to allow the operation of the boiler house in Pljevlja in the next heating season.

"We see that the district heating is already moving at an accelerated pace and that the works are really being carried out quickly, so I would ask the Ministry of Ecology to come to our aid and allow the boiler room to operate in order to preserve the existing consumption and so that we can connect the remaining part of the consumption to the district heating as easily as possible. So that would be my appeal to all of us to start finding solutions together, so that when the district heating reaches Skerlićeva, hopefully next year, we will have projects ready so that we can work on expanding the network," said Tošić.

The route length is 6,7 kilometers, while the actual amount of installed pipes is almost twice as large, because the system consists of a supply and return line.