Previous attempts to heal the industry in the north of the country have not yielded results. There are opportunities in Mojkovac and Pljevlja, as well as investor interest. Rudnik Uglja from Pljevlja is optimistic about the opening of a cement plant in that town.
Coal reserves in the Beran basin, lead-zinc ore in Mojkovac and cement marl in Pljevlja have long been the subject of attention of potential investors. Some have moved from interest to examining the quality of raw materials, and the eventual realization of at least one of these investments would breathe new life into the Montenegrin industry.
The President of the Board of Directors of the Pljevlja Coal Mine, Dušan Janjušević, says that it is quite clear that the cement plant project in the municipality of Pljevlja is the closest to construction.
– In the place where we are located, there is enough raw material for 60 years of operation of the future cement plant. This has been recognized by credible investors from the environment and EU countries, I will especially highlight the Germans and the French, who are extremely interested in starting this type of industrial production – emphasizes Janjušević.
The supplies of cement marl are indisputable and of exceptional quality, and a domestic product would stop the outflow of money from the state, given that we spend millions annually on cement imports.
– We have the second and third phase of the highway, and it is also an opportunity, in addition to other infrastructure projects, for Montenegro to save in some way, and finally after 30 years to start some industrial production where we would make serious savings, considering that according to some data from before, it gives EUR 40 million for the import of cement alone – explains Janjušević.
A potential investor is expected to strictly comply with environmental standards.
– The first positive effect would be the removal of the huge marl dump. There would be a change in the direction of the winds and better ventilation of the city. If a cement plant were to be built according to the most expensive European standards, then we are in favor of its construction – says Milorad Mitrović from the Breznica Ecological Society.
– Our tests of this very cement that is planned is LC3 cement, it is an environmentally friendly cement that could be competitive on the EU market – says Janjušević.
A new factory would also mean new real jobs. Between two and three hundred in the Cementara itself and, it is estimated, at least as many more in the accompanying activities, local media writes.
