The Montenegrin government has approved additional time for the completion of an early phase of a small hydropower project led by the state-owned utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG). A new agreement signed with the Ministry of Energy and Mining grants a ten-month extension for the first stage of the small hydropower plant (SHPP) Otilovići project near Pljevlja.
This marks the third amendment to the original concession agreement concluded in 2022. Project progress accelerated earlier this year after EPCG appointed Vigoris Ecotech to handle both design and construction works, following several unsuccessful tender procedures.
Under the revised timeline, the project is expected to obtain a construction permit by late September 2026, which would formally complete the preparatory phase. Originally, EPCG was required to finalize technical documentation and secure all necessary permits within 18 months, but repeated delays led to successive extensions of the deadline.
Once the first phase is completed, the second stage will focus on construction and commissioning, with a planned duration of two years as defined in the concession agreement. The facility will include two horizontal Francis turbine units with a total installed capacity of approximately 3.2 MW.
Upon completion, the small hydropower plant is expected to generate around 11 GWh of electricity annually, supplying energy equivalent to the consumption of roughly 1,800 households, contributing to Montenegro’s broader renewable energy expansion goals.
