A new bioenergy plant is set to be constructed at the Livade sanitary landfill in Podgorica, aimed at converting biogas into electrical energy. To facilitate this project, the Deponija company has issued a tender for a feasibility study worth EUR 35,000, or EUR 42,350 including VAT.
The feasibility study is tasked with identifying key components of the existing infrastructure and any additional requirements, exploring various solutions to determine the most optimal one, assessing the project’s financial viability, and identifying potential funding sources.
The study should quantify the amount of biogas generated and collected, provide recommendations for enhancing gas collection and generation, and estimate the potential for biogas capture and electricity production over the next decades using data from existing and future landfill cells (4, 5 and 6).
Previously, the company announced plans for both a bioenergy plant and an incinerator, with the incinerator estimated to cost up to EUR 100 million and the bioenergy plant EUR 1.7 million.
Additionally, the study will review the consumption of equipment and facilities within the regional landfill and evaluate the potential for commercially supplying electricity to energy operators.
The tender specifies that the study will be based on a review of existing documentation and measurements, verification of project quantities, and will serve as the basis for developing the main project and obtaining necessary construction permits.
The study will also include additional measurements of gas moisture and quality by an accredited laboratory and verification of gas quantities in unused sanitary cells.
According to the strategic waste management master plan, the Livade landfill is designated as a regional waste disposal site for Podgorica, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Zeta and Tuzi, with waste also coming from Plužine and Šavnik.
For decades, various types of waste, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste, were unmanagedly disposed of at the Livade site, creating a significant municipal and environmental issue. The main project for landfill remediation and development includes a phased construction of six sanitary cells, each with a capacity of 480,000 m³.
Construction of the first phase began in February 2006, with two sanitary cells completed along with supporting infrastructure and equipment. Additional cells 3 and 4 were later added.
At the Livade landfill, biogas has been captured and transported via pipelines to a flare with a capacity of 800 Nm³/h, where it is burned before being released into the atmosphere. In 2023, approximately 240-290 m³/h of biogas was directed to the flare. The study needs to assess further opportunities for gas extraction, new conditions for biotrino connections, and the overall feasibility of operating a biogas power plant.
The project task for the feasibility study aligns with Montenegro’s legislation and best practices. It requires analyzing the landfill area in accordance with the Protection Plan, processing the total planned waste disposal capacity, filling rates of sanitary cells, impact of recycling, fire protection measures, and environmental protection measures, and addressing new requirements under the Waste Management Law.
By 2030, the law mandates that at least 50% of collected waste materials such as glass, paper, metal and plastic be prepared for reuse and recycling, and at least 70% of non-hazardous construction waste be reused. Additionally, the law aims to reduce biodegradable waste disposal to 35% of the total biodegradable waste produced in 2010.
The feasibility study must ensure an adequate supply of technical water, evaluate operational methods, and propose any additional necessary equipment. It should also assess the potential for commercial gas collection from all sanitary cells, new development capacities, required equipment for cogeneration, and infrastructure work. Furthermore, the study should estimate the number of workers needed, financial requirements for construction, and the impact of cogeneration plants on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
