The construction of a 400 kV transmission line from Lastva to Pljevlja is the most important energy project in Montenegro and beyond, and without its realization there is no green transition, said the executive director of the Montenegrin Electric Transmission System (CGES), Ivan Asanović.
“With the completion of that investment, the 400 kV ring in Montenegro will be completed, which will significantly increase the safety and reliability of the transmission system,” Asanović said.
He believes that this will contribute to the further development of the economy, especially when it comes to tourism, both in the north and the south, and will also enable the integration of renewable sources of electricity in the municipalities it passes through.
“This will affect the reduction of losses and the further development of the electricity market,” said Asanović.
“Despite everything, the construction of the transmission line is not finished. About ten percent of the unrealized work remains, the completion of which is expected by the end of the year. We appeal to the competent state authorities, especially those participating in the expropriation procedure, to help the implementation of such a complex project,” said Asanović.
He explained that the transmission line, as well as the underwater cable to Italy, is part of the Trans-Balkan Corridor project, which is a set of elements of the electricity transmission network and should enable better mutual energy connection between Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia, but also their connection with the immediate environment.
The cluster also includes the Montenegro – Italy interconnection project, i.e. the new submarine cable Lastva – Vilannova, converter stations in Italy and Montenegro and TS 400/110/35 kV Lastva, construction and strengthening projects of the internal 400 kV network in Montenegro and Serbia, as well as and the construction of 400 kV interconnecting transmission lines between Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“As is known, the first phase of the project has been implemented and the underwater cable to Italy, together with TS Lastva and 400 kV transmission lines to Čevo have been in operation for three and a half years, and the effects of its work on CGES are multiple. There was a significant increase in revenue from cross-border capacity auctions, both on the border with Italy and on other borders,” Asanović stated.
He added that last year alone, that income exceeded EUR 40 million.
“The construction of TS Lastva enabled a much better power supply to the Montenegrin coast, so that during the previous two summer seasons, not a single interruption in electricity supply caused by faults in the transmission system was recorded. Also, the daily profile of losses in the transmission network has changed, which is now more or less constant. Loads in the transmission network increased, especially at the 400kV voltage level, which initiated changes in the network configuration in order to prevent disruptions due to the parallel operation of the 400kV and 110kV networks,” announced Asanović.
He said that the usual switching scheme is such that now part of the coastal consumption is supplied from TS Podgorica 2, and the other part from TS Lastva.
“In the last few months, CGES has received dozens of letters from numerous investors for connection to the transmission network. Some of them received the fastest feedback, so after receiving the urban planning and technical conditions, they submitted a proper application for connection. In accordance with the regulations, analyzes were made for them on the possibilities of connection and draft contracts were offered to them,” explained Asanović.
