Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Elektroprivreda (EPCG) Milutin Djukanovic said that Montenegro is the only country in the region that has not increased electricity prices for four years, adding one of the reasons lies in strategic investments in domestic capacities.

According to him, these include the Solari 3000+/500+ and 5000+ projects, the Zeljezara solar power plant, and the Vrtac, Kapino Polje, Krupac, Stedim, and Gracanica solar power plants, which are being implemented, or will be implemented, by EPCG’s subsidiaries EPCG-Solar Gradnja and EPCG-Zeljezara.

“The more new sources of electricity we have, the more stable prices will be,” Djukanovic noted in his opinion piece.

He said that these programmes are an example of how greater energy independence and economic stability can be based on domestic knowledge and work. Naturally, there are also other significant projects underway.

Djukanovic stated that thanks to the Solari 3000+/500+ and 5000+ projects, Montenegro now has nearly 100 MWp of installed solar energy. Through the major programmes alone, more than 8,600 solar systems have been installed, while industrial projects such as Zeljezara, Vrtac, and Kapino Polje have added more than 14 MWp. This places Montenegro among the fastest-growing countries in the region in the field of renewable energy.

“The effects of these projects are measurable and multifaceted. EPCG generates over eight million euros by freeing up energy that can be sold on the market at higher prices,” Djukanovic said.

He added that consumers save nearly €6 million as a significant portion of their consumption is covered by their own, virtually free energy. The state budget receives nearly €15 million in revenues from taxes, contributions, and value-added tax (VAT).