Professor Branko Radulović today called on the Prime Minister in the technical mandate, Dritan Abazović, to, as he said, stop the galloping destruction of the energy potential, as the only healthy one left for the development of Montenegro.
In an open letter, he asked Abazović to urgently cancel the issuance of urban planning and technical conditions for the construction of large solar power plants and wind parks and the implementation of approved projects until the adoption of the necessary legal regulations.
"Intensify the preparation and adoption of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2040, the National Energy and Climate Plan and the Law on Renewable Energy Sources," he said.
It is necessary, as he added, to change the project tasks for the construction of hydroelectric power plants (HE) "Komarnica", "Piva II" and "Kruševo" with optimal elevations, as well as to reconstruct the HPP "Piva I" so that they are reversible and hybrid.
"Finally start the valorization of our waters from Bileć Lake. "Order the expertise of the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja TPP in the entire technological process in accordance with the new EU regulations and with the aim of reducing the concentration of CO2 and pollutants," said Radulović.
He stated that he is speaking to Abazović, publicly, because he sees "evil in front of his eyes".
"I have pointed out this countless times, submitted resolutions and given initiatives, debated with you in the Parliament of Montenegro, organized expert discussions on this topic, addressed announcements, held press conferences, and even filed criminal charges, however, it seems in vain. Tycoon, personal or party interests were stronger and greater than the public interest. I am addressing you in this way because I still believe that we share the same attitude towards Montenegro and that catastrophic decisions in the energy sector are a consequence of the overall chaotic situation, as well as your priority, which is the fight against a certain form of high crime".
He said that not only self-sufficiency in green and cheap energy, the development of other sectors and the overall sustainable and competitive economy depends on the quality of valorization of the energy potential, but also the biological survival of the citizens of Montenegro, taking into account climate changes and the geopolitical situation, which will be increasingly complex.
"If we develop energy potential in a sustainable way, respecting knowledge, positive practice and procedures, Montenegro could, in 5-6 years, have a surplus of green energy with income that would continuously grow to over three billion euros and a profit close to one billion euros. We don't need financial resources for that, just knowledge, vision and honesty. The way in which energy potential is treated and decisions are made now indicates that Montenegro does not have any of these conditions. We will come to an absurd situation, that we will produce a large amount of electricity, that the state will have little benefit through paid taxes, that tycoons will make a large profit and that citizens will pay one of the most expensive electricity prices in Europe," warned Radulović.
How much carelessness or ignorance is shown by the fact that, as he added, no one even asks what will happen to the recovered equipment whose service life is 20 to 30 years and for whose quality recycling there is still no technological solution.
According to Radulović, the latest examples of catastrophic decisions regarding energy are the construction of the "Bijela" wind power plant in Šavnik, the intention to build the "Velje Brdo" solar power plant in Podgorica, and the wind power plant in Kolašin, as well as dozens of previous ones regarding the construction of solar and wind power plants from Čevo to Rožaj .
"Each is nonsense in its own way. I pointed out to you and to the decision-makers what modalities exist around the construction of such energy entities so that the state and local self-government would have the greatest, or dominant, benefit. To make the absurdity even greater, I also showed various positive examples from the surrounding area - Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. What we have here, we don't have anywhere else."
Radulović says that it is now clear to him why Abazović did not listen to him when, more than a year ago, he resigned as a member of the Council for the revision of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2040 "because of poor quality work and the questionable competence of certain developers, deeply aware that it defines the development of Montenegro in the next 20 years, including the energy sector".
"There is nothing from the National Energy and Climate Plan, nor from the Law on Renewable Energy Sources. The Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism remained 'deaf' to my request and the subsequent official urgency to provide full information regarding the issuance of permits for the construction of solar fields and wind generators, and the legal deadline for a response was 15 days. I began to suspect that this is covering up laziness, ignorance, and maybe crime."
To make the tragedy worse, as he says, the project tasks and the method of selecting the processor for the preparation of technical documentation for HPP "Komarnica" and HPP "Kruševo" are both an ecological, economic and technological failure.
"The theft of our waters from Lake Bileć continues, the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja TPP and the CO2 content do not inspire optimism, and the decision of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to introduce a cross-border tax on CO2 will come into effect on October 1, 2023. I am also afraid that Mr. (Milojko) Spajić, if he becomes prime minister, will realize the utopia called Europe Now 2 by selling HPP 'Piva' and HPP 'Perućica' for about one billion euros and thus complete the destruction of Montenegro".
Radulović states that what he is presenting should also be represented by competent departmental ministers, management and university professors.
"There are none to advertise. If I were in your place, I would dismiss them all, and reduce the affiliations of these third parties and cancel the study programs for which there is no interest thanks to their relationship, not to mention cowardice".
Radulović reiterated that Željezara Nikšić has a perspective if it separates from EPCG, chooses quality management, returns to its core business, modernizes and restructures like many ironworks in the EU.
"Also, I fully support your thinking that another terminal should be built urgently at Podgorica Airport".
He said that the Široki Brijeg-Sukobin high-speed road, the full Bar-Boljare highway and the reconstruction of the railway are priorities, but they should be implemented from the main project level, with quality, quickly, cheaply and by activating the domestic offer. Our status and EU funds are very important. Finally, establish the Institute for the Development of Montenegro, the Development Bank of Montenegro, the Bond Fund, the Industry of Montenegro ad, it will be easier for us and we will not make mistakes. With my amendments, this is foreseen in the budget for 2023, as well as the development of certain 'mature' projects", concluded Radulović.
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