Only one company has expressed interest in the long-term lease of state property and the construction of a gas station at the Gornje Mrke rest area on the Smokovac-Mateševo highway section.
The tender for this project was originally open until March 17, but the company requested an extension, which was granted, and the deadline will now be extended until mid-April, as confirmed by the company Monteput.
The gas station, along with accompanying services, is planned for a plot of land covering 6,030 square meters located on the left side of the Smokovac-Mateševo section. The land is being leased for 25 years at a minimum annual lease price of €60,300.
This is the third official tender, following the initial one in September 2023, when individual tenders for two gas stations in Gornje Mrke received no offers. A new tender was issued in late December 2023, but no offers were received for the station on the left side, leading to the termination of the public call on February 26.
Monteput reissued the third tender in December 2023 after a nine-month gap. All interested companies and consortiums that purchase the tender documentation and sign a confidentiality agreement may participate. The documentation costs €6,000, and a deposit or bank guarantee of €40,000 must accompany the bid.
The tender stipulates that companies must offer a minimum annual lease price of €60,300, plus at least one cent per liter of fuel sold. They must also submit an investment program backed by a bank guarantee, detailing the structure, timing, and planned sources of investment.
“Applicants must be fuel sellers owning at least seven facilities where fuel is sold, have at least five years of continuous experience in fuel trade, and prove financial capability to fully and timely complete the project under the tender terms,” the documentation states.
According to the Detailed Spatial Plan for the Bar-Boljare highway, the gas station will have a ground floor and one upper floor. The facility will include a larger public water fountain, public restroom, first-aid and information services with official and public phones, a spare parts and equipment store, an informational-tourist point, and a café with an indoor area and terrace.
In mid-2023, the gas station and land on the right side of the Mrke section were leased to the company Jugopetrol. The private company received the land for 25 years at a minimum annual price of €66,760, with a one-cent fee per liter of fuel sold at that gas station.
Jugopetrol recently submitted a request to the Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is needed for the gas station construction at that location. The decision is expected in the near future.
