Montenegro's sole thermal power plant TE Pljevlja has gone offline for a major 70 million euro ($75.7 million) overhaul aimed at increasing the lifespan of the facility and bringing it in line with latest ecological standards, its owner, state-controlled power producer Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), said.
TE Pljevlja was switched off on March 31 as works on the key project have entered their final phase, EPCG said in a statement on Monday.
During the planned seven-and-a-half-month halt, EPCG will import 788 GWh of electricity for 81.7 million euro to compensate for the shortfall from the plant, which typically generates 40% of the country's power consumption, ensuring no impact on consumers, the statement said.
"Consumer supply will remain stable and uninterrupted," EPCG noted, adding that the modernisation project will not impact the electricity price in the coming period.
EPCG said over 90% of the equipment for the revamp, mostly from China, has arrived and is largely installed, with the rest due in June. Logistics is on track, with containers reaching Pljevlja in mid-March and a shipment for the chimney lining expected on April 6, according to the statement.
A total of 200 workers will be involved in the project, including 170 experts from various fields and 30 engineers and technical assistance officers.
The overhaul is carried out by Chinese firm Dongfang Electric with its local subcontractors Bemax, BB Solar and Permonte.
Alongside the overhaul, EPCG is developing a central heating system in Pljevlja to significantly improve living conditions in one of the country's most polluted areas, the statement said.
Last month, EPCG said it expects to produce 2,323 GWh of electricity in 2025, below last year's output of 2,943 GWh, due to the planned shutdown of the 225 MW TE Pljevlja. The latter is expected to generate only 588 GWh this year, down from the typical 1,317 GWh.
At the same time, EPCG's two major hydropower plants, Piva and Perucica, are expected to produce 750 GWh and 950 GWh, respectively, in 2025, in line with the usual levels. Perucica, with an installed capacity of 307 MW, produced 855 GWh of electricity last year, meeting 93% of the annual plan. The 342 MW Piva HPP generated 746 GWh of electricity in 2024, or 99% of planned. At the same time, TE Pljevlja's 2024 output was 2% higher than planned, reaching 1,338 GWh.
(SeeNews, April 1, 2025)
