The Government of Montenegro has adopted urban-technical conditions for a solar power plant with a nominal capacity of 81.1 megawatts near Pljevlja. The location is within the coal mine and thermal power plant complex.
Greece is by far the most successful country in the Balkans when it comes to transforming coal regions into hubs for green energy and high technology. Projects across the region are mostly focused on solar power plants. Neighboring North Macedonia ranks second in performance, while Romania and Bulgaria, as well as Serbia and Slovenia, have taken their first steps. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are still in the planning phase, and Montenegro is joining them with its large photovoltaic project.
The Government in Podgorica has adopted the urban-technical conditions for the technical documentation for the 81.1-megawatt solar power plant named “Rudnik uglja” (Coal Mine). The location is near Pljevlja, in the cadastral municipality of Ilino Brdo I, on part of the Potrlica coal mine.
According to the documentation submitted as part of the project, the grid connection capacity would be 62.5 megawatts. The mine is operated by Rudnik uglja Pljevlja, which is also the investor. The total area covers 62.6 hectares.
The government plans to shut down the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant by 2041, which would mark the end of coal usage in Montenegro.
The plant is owned by the state-run utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), which also owns the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant. The facility is currently offline due to a major reconstruction. It is the only coal-fired power plant in the country. The government intends to shut it down by 2041, officially ending coal use.
In March, Rudnik uglja Pljevlja presented its just transition plan. The company intends to establish 12 new enterprises to support the transformation of this coal region and spin them off from its structure. The planned activities include construction, transportation, and the development of the small Durutovići hydropower plant and a photovoltaic facility.
The previous government initiated the development of an industrial complex plan in Pljevlja two years ago. Numerous renewable energy projects are underway in the region, independent of the aforementioned initiatives.
Source: Balkan Green Energy News