The President of the Board of Directors of the Montenegrin Littoral Regional Waterworks, Zoran Lakušić, said that this year they have planned activities that can and must be implemented, and which, as he pointed out, are of great importance for the citizens and the development of tourism.
However, as he said, implementation is closely related to the activities of numerous relevant entities, "especially those related to the field of water policies".
"In the past 13 years, the Regional Waterworks has continuously performed its responsible tasks thanks to the expertise, good organization and responsible work of its employees. Regardless of whether it was about further successful construction or providing the missing amount of water to the Montenegrin coast, the Regional Waterworks duly fulfilled its basic function. Thanks to this commitment, the Regional Water Supply was able to face tasks of great importance and continuously provide water for the Montenegrin coast," said Lakušić.
The seriousness and complexity of the situation, which, as he points out, threatens to threaten the orderly supply of water to the Montenegrin coast, and therefore tourism as a strategic branch of the Montenegrin economy and driver of its development, require full mobility, coordination and a responsible attitude of competent entities in the field of water policies, as well as the states themselves.
"In the previous period, in addition to major challenges in business, the Regional Waterworks continued to implement development activities. Most of the activities were implemented according to the planned dynamics, but some of them were postponed due to the impossibility of providing urban-technical conditions, various administrative prerequisites for the start of activities, etc." , states Lakušić.
He said that special attention will be paid to the construction of a water purification plant in the coming period.
"On the basis of scientific studies, and in connection with the performance of the spring of 'Boljesestra', in the period July - September, as a consequence of the illegal exploitation of gravel and sand in the bed of the Morača river, the need to provide an additional amount of water during the tourist season has been indicated. In this sense, there is a need for the construction of a plant for purifying water from the lake in the immediate vicinity of the water source, which is of the same quality as in the source. rehabilitation of the Morača riverbed," Lakušić said.
The construction of the plant should, he adds, provide additional amounts of water, while taking into account that the plant is part of the solution that should ensure the long-term sustainability of water supply. "The plant with a capacity of 500 l/s would be installed in the existing hall at the spring of 'Boljeestra', which was built for this purpose in an earlier period," he states.
Lakušić said that funds in the amount of 577.000,00 euros have been provided for the construction of the stationary plant, while, as he said, the remaining amount of up to five million euros, needed to complete the project, "will be provided during the year from loan funds and/or or with the support of the Government".
The president of the board of the Regional Waterworks states that part of the missing amount of water will be provided by the construction of a temporary structure in the bed of the Morača river. "Based on the recommendations of the Techno-Economic Study and the results of the experiment with the temporary constitution in 2023, and with the aim of increasing the yield of the 'Boljestra' spring, the construction of the temporary sand constitution is planned in 2024," adds Lakušić.
He also said that the Regional Waterworks is working intensively on the construction of the pipeline on the section Lastva Grbaljska - Tivat this year as well.
"This project is implemented as part of the second phase of the construction of the Regional Water System, which foresees an increase in the capacity of the water supply system from the current 340 l/s to 750 l/s, which will meet the future need for water from the water supply system of the municipalities of Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi. The construction of the pipeline on the Lastva Grbaljska section is planned and is being carried out as part of the construction of the boulevard on the Jaz-Tivat stretch. The dynamics of pipeline construction work is closely related to the dynamics of road construction, so in this sense it should be expected that 14 km pipeline will be built within a period of 24 months after the start of the works. On certain sections, up to 1 km long, the existing RVS pipeline will be relocated, in order to enable the projected expansion of the road," said Lakušić.
The value of the contracted pipeline construction works, 14 kilometers long, amounts to 8.774.000 euros, which will be financed from the loan provided to the Regional Waterworks by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
"Taking into account the high allocations for electricity, with the aim of functioning of the water supply system, it is planned to start the project of installing photo-voltaic cells on the RVCP facilities, in order to contribute to environmental protection and cost optimization. For the purposes of this project, a ' Feasibility study of solutions for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in the company Regional water supply Crnogorsko primorje (RVCP). For the needs of the Regional water supply, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development financed the preparation of a feasibility study for the construction of capacities for the production of electricity from renewable sources from grant funds. source within the framework of existing infrastructure resources. For the purpose of reducing electricity costs during this year, the discussions started with EPCG regarding the construction of solar power plants on RVS facilities will be continued," says Lakušić.
He also said that, due to the safety of the source of "Boljeestra", during this year, activities will be carried out on the project for covering the source.
"In order to provide funds for the realization of this project, the Company will apply to the IPA funds. Since there is no possibility of building the III phase of the development of RVS, for which in principle the funds for financing have been agreed with the EBRD, the Board of Directors proposed to the Government of Montenegro that these funds redirection for the realization of capital projects in our Company, and during this year activities aimed at the implementation of the mentioned capital projects will be identified and implemented," said Lakušić.
They are convinced, as he said, that with the direct support of the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Water Administration and the Government, they will be able to solve the mentioned problems and challenges.
"The goal is to ensure the successful supply of the Montenegrin coast with the necessary amount of water, not only in 2024, but also in the following years. We will try to make maximum efforts, in anticipation of the partnership approach of all competent entities, i.e. state bodies and institutions," concluded Lakušić.
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