Press release

At today’s Round Table “TPP Pljevlja Unit II – Economic and Environmental Challenges” organized by NGO MANS, representatives of Elektroprivreda Crne Gore, Coal Mine Pljevlja and the Government of Montenegro, once again denied, through concrete answers and comments, groundless statements about the project TPP “Pljevlja” Unit II which are being released lately by the mentioned NGO.

Team emphasized the fact that Unit II will operate in accordance with the strictest standards of EU; therefore, it is unclear how it will cause for the medical costs in Montenegro to be almost double.

It became evident at the Round Table that theses of MANS on the Unit II are poorly prepared and based on incorrect and arbitrary claims. With that regard, claims of the mentioned NGO that costs of pit mine opening will amount to € 145 mil, instead of € 73 mil for opening of all pit mines, indicate earnestness of their analysis in the document.

On the other hand, all professional analyses of experts pointed out that reclamation of pit mines cannot exceed the amount of five million euros for all pit mines, while MANS calculates with the amount of € 85 mil. MANS still claims that quantity of the coal is insufficient, despite the fact that all analyses of reputable companies indicated that the quantity of coal is sufficient for operation of both Units. Furthermore, MANS mentioned the amount of € 100 mil necessary for adaptation of Unit I, while ecological reconstruction of the Unit I, trough implementation of the Unit II, would amount to about € 20 mil. Otherwise, without Unit II, costs of adaptation would amount to about € 40 mil.

Culmination of this NGO’s ignorance concerning electric power situation is indicated by expressed doubt in deficiency of electricity in Montenegro. The public has been well informed about the problem of electricity deficiency in the country, while the fact that electricity imported by Montenegro in the period 2003 – 2013 amounted to € 900 mil proves the necessity of construction of electric power facilities.

Finally, representatives of the Working Team stated that economic efficiency of the project Unit II is not measured by mere sum of different costs or analysis of individual extreme situations, as stated by MANS, but on the basis of several other complex parameters.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the aim of the mentioned document of MANS is not to inform the public about the facts concerning the Project, but rather to manipulate the public, which leaves room for different interpretations.

For the purpose of explanation of the mentioned statements of MANS, whereby they showed elementary ignorance concerning this matter, the Working Team would like to provide the interested public with objective perception about importance of construction of the first major energy facility in Montenegro after the period of 30 years. Therefore, it prepared comments, presented during the Round Table, which are available at the website of EPCG at the following address:

http://www.epcg.com/sites/admin.epcg.com/files/multimedia/b/komentari_na_pojedine_djelove_teksta_nvo_mans_o_projektu_blok_ii_te_pljevlja.doc.