The Montenegrin government is required to develop a new detailed spatial plan (DPP) and the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for the Unit II of the thermal power plant (TPP) Pljevlja and then submit them to be discussed at a public debate so as experts and interested public could make their comments since Montenegrin Electric Enterprise (EPCG) has changed the technical parameters for the construction of the new thermal power plant, which are significantly different from those that were presented at the public debate held in May 2014.
Namely, the basis for drafting the DSP and SEA that were discussed at the public debate was the feasibility study on construction of the Unit II of the thermal power plant, which, along with the Environmental Impact Assessment Study, was done for the needs of EPCG at the end of 2012 by a Slovenian consortium led by the company Esotech from Velenje.
EPCG has not yet published the feasibility study, but keeps its content hidden, while MANS Investigation Center came into possession of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study from 2012, which explicitly states that the 220 MW power of Unit II is the optimum value taking into consideration the available coal reserves of the “inner Pljevlja basin“.
However, early this year, the state energy company signed a new contract with the company Ecotech from Velenje on the conceptual design of construction of the Unit II and a new environmental impact assessment study, based on completely new technical characteristics. The optimal power offered for the Unit II was 250 MW, although only three years earlier the same company established that when taking into consideration the coal reserves the optimum power of the Unit was 220 MW.
This calls into question the entire existing procedure in which the selected Czech company Skoda Praha offered to build the Unit with the power of 254 MW. Apparently, the purpose of the new document is to fit the Skoda’s offer.
The Slovenian company should develop the contract documents within 90 days from the date EPCG delivers the terms of reference and urban and technical conditions, which is expected after the adoption of the DPP. It is particularly worrying that the technical specification on the basis of which “Esotech” should develop the conceptual design states that the objective of making this document is obtaining a building permit for the construction of the Unit II of TPP Pljevlja.
From the above mentioned it can be concluded that the government needs to develop new planning documents and hold a new public debate, which is an obligation under the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction, which stipulates holding a public debate if the planning document differs significantly from the original draft.
Concerning DSP and SEA drafts MANS pointed out that these documents are illegal and incompatible and that they leave many questions open, whereas they are mostly based on manipulative and incomplete data, that they have not assert that the project of construction of the Unit II is economically viable and in the public interest, and that the construction of the new thermal power plants would have far-reaching adverse effects on the Pljevlja environment and health of the population, which would make a large number of locals leave the area.
Another €141,000 for new studies on Unit II of TPP Pljevlja
The latest contract EPCG concluded with “Esotech” was worth €141,000, so the question whether the money from previously concluded contracts with this company was wasted has been brought up. MANS still does not have the information about the value of the contracts with Slovenia from 2012.
That a national energy company does not pay much heed to the public opinion regarding the controversial project of Unit II and that it carries on with its execution despite a series of open questions is supported by the fact that at the beginning of March this year it concluded a contract with the company “Geotehnika Plus” from Niksic, which refers to geotechnical investigations of the site for the construction of Unit II. The value of this contract is €76,500.
Also, late last year EPCG issued an invitation to tender for technical, legal, economic and financial consulting regarding the reorganization of the thermal power plant Pljevlja and Coal Mine, the estimated value was €450,000, but this procurement was later suspended.
This text is created with the support of the European Union and the US Embassy Podgorica. Network for Affirmation of Non-Governmental Sector – MANS is solely responsible for the contents of this article, and the views taken herein shall not in any case be considered as those of the European Union.
