Montenegro’s Electric Power Company Withdraws from the Procedure, but Not from the Project. The Fight Continues.
The Save Komarnica Initiative has so far deliberately refrained from commenting on numerous media speculations and political spins, acting responsibly and waiting for official information from the competent institutions. Now that this information has finally been confirmed, we feel obligated to speak publicly.
EPCG has withdrawn its request for an environmental permit for the Komarnica hydropower project. This means the procedure has been temporarily halted—but the project has not been rejected. The Komarnica hydropower plant remains a real threat—now without environmental approval, but also without a formal dismissal.
Instead of continuing the administrative procedure and denying the environmental permit for the Komarnica HPP—as required by law and recommended by the expert commission—Milan Gazdić, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, made the decision to simply suspend the procedure, clearly in favor of the investor. In doing so, institutional responsibility was avoided, and the door was left open for a new attempt at project realization—especially through the announced legislative changes that would allow for bypassing or drastically shortening the permit procedure.
A missed opportunity: the project could have been legally and formally rejected. By failing to issue a final decision, the Agency leadership has enabled EPCG to continue planning, amid serious indications of legal abuse and potential criminal liability. In our view, this resolution lacks legal grounding and amounts to nothing more than buying time. It is a serious example of legal manipulation and an attempt to circumvent binding regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to serve the interests of the state and its citizens—but it seems narrow party interests and the interests of other countries prevail.
The withdrawal of the request is therefore merely a tactical retreat – a ploy to wait for a more favorable moment and legislative changes. It is not a sign of a shift toward a sustainable and innovative energy policy, but rather a continuation down the wrong path.
Our fight has lasted for years—with scientifically grounded and legally irrefutable arguments that we have submitted during public consultations. Precisely because of this, despite years of trying to revise the Environmental Impact Assessment, EPCG failed to meet legal requirements. That is ultimately why they withdrew the request.
This is a continuation of political deceit: The Government led by Dritan Abazović, otherwise the leader of an environmentally-oriented political party (URA), signed the Agreement that enables the construction of the Komarnica HPP – despite now claiming they were against it. The new Government, led by Milojko Spajić, Mujović, and other ministers, has continued down the same path – even though they publicly promised not to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors and to defend the interests of citizens and nature. There are not two different policies – there is a clear continuity of ignoring the law, science, expertise, citizens, and nature, all in favor of privileged groups.
We remind the public that from June 6 to 8, a protest camp will be held at Komarnica, where we will speak about our fight for rivers and announce our next steps toward the preservation and sustainable use of the Komarnica River. We remain vigilant and determined. We will not allow harmful, outdated, and non-transparent projects to be revived through backroom deals and tailor-made laws.
Komarnica remains a line of defense – not only for nature, but for the rule of law.
For more information:
Andrijana Mićanović