ROVČANIN ATTENDED THE XII CONFERENCE ON ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRED IN VRNJAČKA BANJA

Thanking the hosts for the invitation, Rovčanin informed the attendants about development projects of EPCG. “We are firmly committed to raising the level of energy stability of Montenegro, namely through investments into renewable energy sources. Accordingly, we are planning construction of the wind farm Gvozd, solar power plant Briska Gora, hydro power plant Komarnica, as well as floating solar on Slano Lake. Furthermore, we are currently engaged in implementation of the project Solar 3000+ and Solar 500+, which will enable citizens to generate electricity on their own. This will provide numerous benefits: citizens’ expenditures will be reduced, our system will be somewhat unburdened, while all of it will be based on the green energy” Rovčanin said.     

With reference to restructuring of regional power systems, problem-solving models related to older facilities, particularly those that violate or hardly comply with EEC standards regarding emission of hazardous substances, were also discussed at the Conference.  In this regard, Rovčanin mentioned the case of TPP Pljevlja. “This Thermal Power Plant, having 42 – 52% of share in electricity generation, is undoubtedly the most important plant in our Company. Problems referring to compliance with EEC standards left us with two options: urgent shutdown of the plant or extension of its lifetime through ecological retrofitting. We chose the second option, having in mind that it will cost incomparably less, in every aspect, and that it also provides us enough time to preserve energy and economic stability of EPCG and Montenegro as well, through construction of alternative facilities. Other European countries also have similar problems, and their decision to gradually transform their energy systems is our guideline” Rovčanin concluded.    

CIRED is the leading international professional association in the field of electricity distribution technology, with headquarters in Belgium. It has been active for 45 years, and it has 37 member countries across the globe. CIRED Conference traditionally has scientific-expert and commercial character, and it gathers managers of electricity distribution companies, manufacturers, customers and service providers of energy equipment and other distribution equipment, expert engineers, professors and researchers, as well as consultants and designers from the region.