Executive Director of the Montenegrin electricity transmission system operator CGES Ivan Bulatovic said that the dynamics of the works that will enable the connection of the submarine electricity cable from Italy to the Montenegrin electricity network, which is in charge of CGES, is in accordance with the dynamics of works performed by the Italian company Terna, adding that some stages of the project will be competed by the end of 2018, when the connection of electricity systems of Montenegro and Italy is expected.
Bulatovic recalled that the construction of transmission line Lastva-Cevo-Pljevlja, Lastva substation and submarine cable to Italy is a part of the Trans-Balkan corridor, which will connect Montenegro, Serbia and Romania in order to achieve the connection of Balkan electricity markets with Western European ones.
The total value of the investment on the Montenegrin part, which includes the construction of Lastva substation, 400 kV transmission line Lastva-CevoPljevlja and the connection of the existing 400 kV transmission line Podgorica-Trebinje to Lastva substation, amounts to 106 million euros, namely 127 million euros if the construction of transmission line from Pljevlja to Serbian border is included as well. Bulatovic pointed out that the European Union recognized the efforts of Montenegro and CGES to participate in important projects for strengthening the electricity infrastructure, and awarded the company 25 million euros grant for this purpose.
Earlier this month, The operator of cargo terminal in the Montenegrin port of Bar said that it has started receiving equipment for the Lastva Grbaljska substation, which is part of the onshore section of the project for the construction of submarine electricity cable between Italy and Montenegro. The construction of Lastva Grbaljska substation will cost 38.5 million euros, 400 kV transmission line between Lastva Grbaljska and Cevo will cost 28.5 million euros, while the construction of 400 kV transmission line from Cevo to Pljevlja will cost additional 39 million euros.
In February, Terna announced that the laying of the entire submarine DC cable between Montenegro and Italy, namely between the Balkans and the European Union, has been completed. The total length of the cable between Pescara in Italy and cape Jaz in Montenegro is 455 kilometers, of which 433 kilometers are underwater. Terna started the laying of 136 kilometers of the cable from the Italian coast in the beginning of 2015, while the laying of 157 kilometers of cable from the Montenegrin side has been completed in December 2016.
In mid-November 2010, Montenegro has signed the contract on the implementation of project for linking electricity grids of Montenegro and Italy with the submarine DC cable. The value of the project is estimated to one billion euros, while Montenegro will invest some 100 million euros. Montenegro should be entitled to 20% of the capacity and transit fees from the future cable. It is planned to connect to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from Montenegro. According to the agreement, the obligation of Montenegrin electricity transmission system operator CGES, in which Terna has 22 % stake, is to build 440 kV transmission line between the Adriatic coast (substation in Lastva Grbaljska) and Pljevlja.
