Head of the Working group for the most demanding chapter 27, Ms Ivana Vojinović, announced great investments in the ecology of Montenegro.
She also said that some major projects in the area of ecology were underway.
Montenegro has opened chapter 27 – Environment. What are our tasks in this chapter and how much will it cost?
Ms Vojinović: Since the opening of Chapter 27, many tasks have been fulfilled. I have to point out that we have constructive cooperation with the European Commission, which is very important for the success in negotiations. Tomorrow we have a meeting of the Sub-Committee on energy, Transport, Environment and Regional Development.
In the context of forthcoming plans, we are going to continue with the protection of nature. Last year we established even three nature parks and now we are working on the establishment of management structures in those areas. Saltworks in Ulcinj has got international protection. €1 million has been earmarked fir capital investments, recovery of the channel and embankment. We are also going to continue with the research with the aim of establishing Natura 2000 ecological network and we are working on the proclamation of first sea protected areas.
Through the cooperation with UNSECO, we are intensifying implementation of high standards or the areas on the list of world natural heritage. We expect positive response to the nomination of rain forest beech complex of forests in Biogradska gora NP.
What ecological projects are underway?
Ms Vojinović: Through credit arrangements of international financial institutions, and our own funds, collector systems and sewerage grid in the entire territory of Montenegro are being constructed. Also, million investments in the construction of plants for wastewater treatment are being implemented.
Implementation of agreement on construction of plants in Andrijevuica, Petnjica and Danilovrad is underway too. Start of the construction of primary collector in Podgorica has marked the construction of the new wastewater treatment system.
In the area of waste management, we are going to continue with the activities on the establishment of the system of selection, prevention, recycling and re-use of waste. Projects of the recovery of unregulated landfills, construction of recycling yards, transfer stations, fourth body of the landfill in Podgorica, center for waste processing in the landfill in Bar are all underway. New State plan on waste management for 2026 will be developed. In addition, conditions are being created for the construction of the regional center for waste management in Bijelo Polje.
Through the new strategic framework in the area of air quality, we are going to pay special attention to measures aimed at reducing air pollution and its impact on public health.
How much will that cost?
Ms Vojinović: In the next 15 years, over €10 billion will be invested from different sources.
Structural funds from the EU membership will be a very important source of financing.
Black ecological spots in Montenegro have been subject of talks over the past few decades, pools of red mud near Podgorica being the first among them. How far has the revitalization of the pool come? Can pool of red mud become mineral resource?
Ms Vojinović: For many years government of Montenegro has been dealing with this complex problem and addressing dangerous industrial waste in the most critical locations. In cooperation with the World Bank, project entitled “Management and treatment of industrial waste” is underway. The project has provided funds for the development of technical documentation for the remediation of the pool.
Project of geological and technical research has been revised positively.
Primary goal is to transform this location into an ecologically safe area. After that, potential of the red mud for the purposes of economic exploitation will definitely be considered.
The second black spot is the grit from the shipyard in Bijela. What happened with the grit? Is it still the black spot?
Ms Vojinović: One of key priorities in addressing the problem of industrial pollution is remediation of this location. Apart from contamination of waste grit and treatment of contaminated land, remediation of the location will create conditions for the valorization of that area through the implementation of high-quality investments.
Activities on remediation of this location started in June of 2018. So far, the contractor exported 38.488 of dangerous grit to Spain, in line with the licenses issued by competent Spanish authority and our Agency for the protection of environment.
A lot has been invested in Pljevlja and Thermal Power Plant. Is that own still disputable in ecological terms? Are there private furnaces?
Ms Vojinović: Thermal Power Plant has been investing in equipment for the prevention of air pollution for years. In 2013, around €1 million was invested in the repair of electric filters, making emissions of suspended particles limited to the prescribed standards. However, from that period until now, increased concentration of suspended particles in the air are recorded ever winter in Pljevlja, primarily due to heating in households using hard fuels and bad weather conditions. Investment in Thermal power plant in Pljevlja encompasses installation of the equipment for reduction of emissions of sulfur-oxide and nitric oxide and creation of conditions for the implementation of heating project.
There are around 10.000 household in Pljevlja, 99% of which have individual furnaces whereas very limited number of residents of Pljevlja use electricity for heating.
According to the expectations, Pljevlja will invest funds from fees of companies dealing with energy and extraction industry in addressing ecological problem. This year, remediation of two back ecological spots in Pljevlja is expected to be finished.
What is currently the biggest ecological problem in Montenegro?
Ms Vojinović: Ecological problems are numerous and various. Public attention is focused on negative consequences of climate change, loss of bio-diversity, destruction of forests, waste management, presence of plastic in seas and oceans, air pollution, noise, and nature imbalance.
Why is Bijelo Polje polluted even though there’s no big industry there?
Ms Vojinović: In September 2019, automatic station for monitoring air control was put into operational use in Bijelo Polje. With the beginning of heating season, increased concentrations of suspended particles in the air were recorded. Bijelo Polje is in the northern zone of air quality. Level of pollution is not identical in all municipalities but the source of pollution is the same – use of solid fuels for heating.
What is the situation with rivers in Montenegro?
Ms Vojinović: In accordance with the Information on Environment water flows and parts of the flow with the greatest amount of pollution are:Vezišnica, Ćehotina, Morača, Ibar, Lim and Grnčar, whereas Piva has the best water quality.
The biggest sources of pollution are public utility waste waters, agriculture activities, industry, transport and distribution of fuels and construction works.
