On 30 June 2017, CGES celebrated eight years of existence as a separate legal person. On that occasion, the newly elected Chairwoman of the Board of Directors Vesna Bracanović, by greeting the attendees, underlined that “the jubilee is related also to the fact that the first substation of transmission network in Montenegro was put into operation 60 years ago, with the aim of ensuring regular supply of one of the first holders of the Montenegrin economic development in that time - Željezara Nikšić”, and that this substation, together with the 110 kV overhead line towards Bileća, represents the beginning of development of electricity transmission in Montenegro in modern terms. “Both in these first days and today, our main task through performing a public interest activity has remained to ensure an accessible and reliable electricity supply of all Montenegrin citizens and economy. We do this through a good connection with our neighbours, through a responsible relationship and permanent work on development, maintenance and control of the transmission network in Montenegro”.
Moreover, the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors emphasised in her speech the record performance in the field of investments in the previous year in the amount of over € 30 million, with a net profit of € 2.4 million realised in very difficult conditions.
“I would like to particularly emphasise that we continued with activities on the construction of associated infrastructure for the submarine cable and interconnection with Italy, so in spite of problems expected for such complex investment projects, works were performed on all three construction sites.
For this project, with the support of the Government of Montenegro and Ministry of Economy, a grant was provided in the amount of € 25 million for the construction of the second part of Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor – Grid Section in Montenegro. In that manner, complete financing for the 400 kV overhead line Bajina Bašta- Pljevlja was provided last year, as well as for a series of projects that are very important for reinforcing the transmission network. Thereby, the EU gave strong support to what was done by Montenegro and CGES in their range for carrying out the Connectivity Agenda and integration in the European energy market, whereby creating preconditions for a faster implementation of projects with regional dimension, without any additional burden of the tariff for consumers in Montenegro.”
She also highlighted that this project draw attention and positive comments by the highest European officials, including the European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who recently visited our construction site in Lastva.
“We completed works on two new facilities, thereby creating a long-term solution for a secure and quality supply with electricity of the areas of Kotor and Nikšić, and it was completed also the project providing energy stability of municipalities of Mojkovac and Kolašin, thereby creating preconditions for a faster economic development of this part of Montenegro, but also conditions for connection of renewable energy sources.”
“We initiated a project of enhancement and improvement of supervision and control capacities, as well as performances of the existing National Dispatching Centre, by which it will be formed two parallel and independent dispatching centres on two physically separated locations in accordance with ENTSO-E standards, as well as a series of other projects important for our system”, concluded Vesna Bracanović.
“Achieved results encourage us, and they primarily represent a result of knowledge and capability of our employees, but also of support by institutions and you that are here today with us. On the other hand, everything achieved until now imposes us an additional obligation to justify expectations and make additional efforts in order to achieve targets that are in front of us”.
