Montenegrin authorities estimate that setting up and operating a strategic system of commodity reserves (‘robne rezerve’) — aimed at ensuring supply security for essential goods — would require more than €200 million per year once fully implemented. According to recent assessments prepared for policymakers, the initial establishment of these reserves would alone cost an estimated €21.3 million in the first year, with about 88 percent of that figure (roughly €18.8 million) attributable to procurement and storage infrastructure. These figures reflect just one component of a broader and long-term financing requirement that is likely to exceed the €200 million annual mark when all storage, operational logistics, procurement programmes and contingency management systems are factored in.
Montenegro currently lacks a functioning system of commodity reserves, having abolished its national reserves regime in 2003; recent governmental planning documents and expert analyses have underscored that this absence leaves the country exposed to supply disruptions and price volatility, especially for food staples and energy-intensive products. Introducing and maintaining formal stockpiles — consistent with practices in many European Union states — would require establishing dedicated storage facilities, logistical networks and administrative capacity, all of which contribute to the elevated projected cost baseline.
Government discussions on this issue have been informed by both international practice and domestic experience with past shortages, with proposals considering various models for implementation, including public-private partnerships or hybrid procurement frameworks. The high estimated annual cost underscores the scale of investment and fiscal commitment that will be necessary to create a resilient reserves system capable of supporting Montenegro’s food and energy security objectives in the face of future economic shocks or supply chain disruptions.
