International Appeal Against the Construction of the Komarnica Hydropower Plant
(MNE)
Inicijativa Spasimo Komarnicu je danas uputila hitno pismo Vladi Crne Gore i nadležnim institucijama sa zahtjevom za odustajanje od projekta izgradnje hidroelektrane “Komarnica” u istoimenom kanjonu.
Pismo su potpisali pojedinci iz međunarodne zajednice ekonomista, inženjera, energetskih stručnjaka, ekologa, biologa i pravnika.
Kanjon Komarnice je prepoznat kao nominovano međunarodno Emerald i Natura 2000 područje, koje predstavlja jedan od poslednjih sačuvanih mozaika divljih ekosistema u Evropi, dom rijetkih i endemskih vrsta. Potpisnici upozoravaju da nije sprovedena analiza troškova i koristi, niti su dostupne ekonomske i energetske studije koje bi opravdale ovakav projekat.
Nezavisne procjene pokazuju da bi izgradnja hidroelektrane koštala više od 300 miliona eura, uz minimalan doprinos ukupnoj energetskoj proizvodnji Crne Gore – manje od 2%. Potpisnici ističu da bi izgradnja brane i potapanje kanjona doveli do trajnog gubitka endemskih vrsta, narušavanja prirodnih hidroloških procesa i ozbiljnog ugrožavanja globalnih napora za očuvanje biodiverziteta.
Podsjećamo javnost da cijena hidroelektrane stalno raste: 2012. godine iznosila je 183 miliona eura, 2020. – 264 miliona, a od 2023. godine HE Komarnica košta 343 miliona eura.
Postoje bolja rješenja, npr. hibridna elektrana (sunce, vjetar, vodonik) bi dala najmanje 2 puta više energije za isti novac, a rijeka bi ostala sačuvana. HE “Komarnica” bi proizvodila 7 puta manje električne energije od termoelektrane “Pljevlja”, a ukoliko bi se gradila bila bi puštena u rad za 10 godina.
Inicijativa građana Spasimo Komarnicu poziva institucije i sve odgovorne aktere da zaštite kanjon Komarnice — dragocjeno prirodno nasljeđe koje je dio identiteta Crne Gore kao ekološke države.
(ENG)
Save Komarnica initiative today sent an urgent letter to the Government of Montenegro and relevant institutions, calling for the cancellation of the Komarnica hydropower plant project in the canyon.
The letter was signed by individuals from the international community of economists, engineers, energy experts, ecologists, biologists, and legal professionals.
The Komarnica Canyon has been recognized as a proposed international Emerald and Natura 2000 site. It represents one of the last remaining mosaics of wild ecosystems in Europe and is home to rare and endemic species. The signatories warn that no cost-benefit analysis has been conducted, nor are there publicly available economic or energy studies to justify such a project.
Independent assessments indicate that the construction of the hydropower plant would cost over €300 million, while contributing less than 2% to Montenegro’s total energy production. The signatories emphasize that building the dam and flooding the canyon would lead to the permanent loss of endemic species, disruption of natural hydrological processes, and a serious setback to global biodiversity conservation efforts.
The public is reminded that the cost of the hydropower plant continues to rise: in 2012 it was estimated at €183 million, in 2020 at €264 million, and as of 2023 the Komarnica project is priced at €343 million.
There are better alternatives—for example, a hybrid power plant (solar, wind, hydrogen) could generate at least twice as much energy for the same investment, while preserving the river. Komarnica hydropower plant would produce seven times less electricity than Pljevlja thermal power plant and, if constructed, would not be operational for another 10 years.
Save Komarnica initiative calls on institutions and all responsible stakeholders to protect Komarnica Canyon—a precious natural heritage and a vital part of Montenegro’s identity as an ecological state.
