Montenegrin Activists Urge End to Hydropower Plant Construction

Environmental activists in Montenegro have submitted a petition to parliament calling for a moratorium on the construction of small hydro-power plants due to the impact on rivers and water supply.

The petition, submitted last week, was signed by 6,300 people and calls on the state to cease issuing construction permits until a strategic assessment is made of the environmental impact of such power plants.

"There has to be an end to the constriction of energy facilities and the taking of water from the local population," said Natasa Kovacevic of the local non-governmental organisation Green Home.

In November last year, the European Parliament assessed that most small-scale hydroelectric power plants in Montenegro did not meet European conventions in terms of planning and construction. It called on Montenegrin authorities to better protect the country's natural resources.

Montenegro has seen a number of protests by local residents over the building of hydro-power plants, most recently on the Bukovica river in the Savnik municipality of central Montenegro where locals are manning protest in shifts and blocking excavators. Two plants are planned on the river. "Thanks to the people who stand guard construction is not going ahead," said protester Veljko Bulatovic. "If they take our Bukovica, they take our life."

Renewable energy targets

There are currently 13 small, privately-owned hydropower plants in Montenegro. An additional 5-10 are under construction and dozens more are at various stages of realisation.  Six small plants were built in the municipality of Plav, in the heart of the Prokletije national park, according to local activist Ramo Gutic.

"Downstream from the power plants springs are dried up and the...

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