EPCG MARKS THE 111th ANNIVERSARY: ENERGY REVOLUTION STARTS

'The Day of EPCG, August 19th, is a nice reminder of the impressive tradition of our company. The fact that, even 111 years ago, the first electric power plant had been commissioned in Montenegro in honor of the coronation of Nikola I Petrović Njegoš arouses pride as well as obligates us to meet the high standards in the period to come, in a way that we are going to strengthen electric-power stability and economy of Montenegro in compliance with contemporary business tendencies, for the pleasure of all our citizens’, said Nikola Rovčanin, the Chief Executive Offcier, on the occasion of celebrating 111th anniversary of EPCG’s operation.  

'We are about to launch implementation of the 'Gvozd' wind farm on Krnovo plateau, the 'Briska Gora' soal power plant situated above the town of Bar, and the development of the Preliminary Design expected to be completed by the year end will meet all the requirements as well as all the conditions neccessary to begin construction of HPP 'Komarnica' on the Komarnica River.

' The ‘Gvozd' wind farm will have 54.6 MW installed capacity, with annual generation of cca 150 GWh, which is enough to cover consumption of about 250.000 households. Construction of the power plant on Briska Gora is planned to take place in phases, the first phase having the minimum installed capacity of 50 MW and the second phase up to the totally planned installed capacity not exceeding 200 MW. Implementation of these projects, as well as the HPP 'Komarnica' Project of 172 MW will considerably increase capacity of EPCG generating facilities within the next couple of years. Given this, there will be many reasons to be optimistic about the future, with the completion of capital rehabilitation of the existing units and creation of conditions for the installation of the eighth unit in HPP ‘Perućica’ and with completion of strategic works executed in the facilities of HPP ‘Piva’ ‘, said Mr Rovčanin.

The Environmental Retrofitting of TPP Pljevlja Project is especially important for EPCG, which will ensure extended lifetime for this facility; in addition to the implicit reclamation of the 'Maljevac' ash and slag landfill and implementation of the district heating of Pljevlja, it seems that, apart from the economic criterion, this will meet the environmental criterion as well, as a prerequisite for comfortable life of our citizens.

As regards the new projects, the one which relates to the construction of a floating solar power plant on Lake Slano is particularly important. It is this lake that provides great opportunities for development of solar green energy, having in mind that Montenegro, being a small country of specific geografical configuration, does not have huge areas suitable for installation of solar panels; however, unlike Lake Krupac, Lake Slano has not been recongnized as a tourist attraction in the Municipality of Nikšić. In addition, it should be taken into consideration that construction of floating solar panels on this lake would not entail property-related disputes, because it is owned by our company. The project would be fully compliant with guidelines prescribed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) governing mitigation of a negative impact of renewable energy source onto biodiversity.   

Also, we have been working so diligently on the project of marking infertile land where solar panels would be installed. Projects 'Solari 3000+' and 'Solari 500+' are the last in a series of projects by which EPCG shows that it keeps up with the times, with a more decisive approach to energy and ecological challenges.

'By launching these projects, our company plans to contribute to reduction in use of damaging energy sources and, at the same time, make it possible for our citizens to be in a position to generate electricity via installation of solar panels in residential facilities, small business plants as well as in public institutions and enterprises. The loan granted for installation of solar panels would be repaid within 5 to 7 years, under very favourable terms, given that the installment amount would not be higher than the average monthly electricity bill. Finally, the possible surplus would be sold to our company', said EPCG's CEO. 

Along with development projects, we take care about our citizens' standard of living so that, during this year, we have initiated the campaign which would make it possible for those owners of meters included in the group of socially vulnerable citizens, i.e. unemployed persons registered with the National Employment Agency, as well as for retired persons whose income does not exceed €222 to be entitled to 40% discount of their electricity bill. We are also careful about our regular payers, so that all memebers of the ‘Golden Team’, i.e. households which settle their electricity-related liabilities on a regular basis, are entitled to 12.25% discount of their total electricity bill.

'Times of great challenges are ahead of us as well as the opporunities to make EPCG a regional corporate giant, and to provide our country both with electric-energy stability and economic growth, with the implicit care about interests and situation of Montenegro's citizens. The outcome of future projects depends not only upon EPCG; however, we will do our best to meet the high standards at any time and in any place', said Mr Rovčanin.

In addition to accomplishing targeted energy and economic effects, our business policy objectives imply full compliance with the Euroepan standards in the area of environmental protection, which is the neccessary condition to be met so as to ensure more comfortable life of our citizens, especially in those areas where our generating facilites are located. This is evident quite a lot by our investments into reclamation of the 'Maljevac' ash and slag landfill in the Municipality of Pljevlja, worth about €20 million, which slowly but surely becomes the green corner for recreation and relaxation of all generations of Pljevlja people. Also, there is the project of environmental retrofitting of the Unit of TPP 'Pljevlja' worth around €54 million, encompassing also district heating of the town situated under the Golubinje Hill.