Montenegro

Strategic Environmental Assessment on Draft Montenegro Energy Strategy 2025 - Presentation of the key issues arising from the Initial Scoping Report

Mr. Peter Nelson, Principal, Land Use Consultants, presented key issues of the Initial Scoping Report of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on the Draft Montenegro Energy Strategy, which he prepared as a team with Mr. Matt Ryder and Ms. Sarah Young. The presentation is an extract of the report, which is being issued to all stakeholders with an interest in the Energy Sector who may be able to contribute to the SEA. Purpose of the report is to identify the topics that are being studied, to raise questions about areas of uncertainty and to clarify shortfalls in information where these exist. It contains the review of baseline information, preliminary assessment of effects of the proposed scenarios as well as the initial response to the key issues raised. 

Some of the issues which the SEA will be exploring include the extend to which:

1. the Energy strategy involves the opportunities for developing forms of renewable energy other then hydropower.
2. Energy efficiency and energy conservation targets have been included in the forecast for energy consumption by 2025.
3. Detailed studies have already been undertaken on the social, economic and environmental effects of major development projects that are included in the preferred strategy. This is a necessary step under EU directives before underlined strategy can be adopted.
4. Negotiations have been already taking place with the neighboring countries (especially with Albania in relation to impacts of the Morača river HPPs and the likely effects on the Skadar lake) as set out in the strategic commitments of the Energy Strategy. 

 

UNDP Resident Representative a.i./UN Interagency Focal Point in Montenegro Mr. Garret Tankosić Kelly stated in his introductory remarks that the UNDP and the World Bank, on the invitation of the Ministry for Economic affairs of Montenegro joined the hands in conducting the components of the Strategic Environment Assessment as a contribution to the Government of Montenegro in preparation of a well-tailored Energy Strategy as one of the key documents for the country’s development. 

“Noting that the preparation of the Energy Strategy, public consultation process and action plan in Montenegro is supported by UNIDO, our office communicated with Mr. Leuenberger and Ms. Claudia Linke-Heep in regard to SEA and both of them believed that the SEA is an important and necessary contribution, which will help to improve the Energy Strategy and ultimately better serve the people and the Government of Montenegro as well as the private sector,”, said Mr. Tankosić Kelly.

“Moreover,”, he added, “the UNDP shared with the Ministry for Economic Development concern that our consultant, the Land Use Consultants (LUC), would need at least eight to ten weeks to conduct the assessment and report on its findings.“

Considering that the purpose of the Strategic Environmental Assessment is to ensure that potential environmental consequences of the plans and programmes are identified and assessed during their preparation and before their adoption, it is of advantage to the Government of Montenegro to fully utilize the expertise and experience of the consultants to deliver a product of the highest quality. Thus, it is of utmost importance that the outputs of the SEA are incorporated in the Draft Energy Strategy before its finalization and adoption.

The SEA would contribute to more transparent planning by involving the public and by integrating environmental considerations in the strategic documents of the country, such as the Energy Strategy.

Guests at the presentation were representatives of the Government of Montenegro (Ministry for Economic Development, Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection, Energy Regulatory Agency); international organizations (GTZ, OSCE, REC, UN Agencies); diplomatic corps (American Embassy; British Embassy; Bulgarian Embassy; Chinese Embassy; Consular Office of the Czech Republic; Croatian Embassy; Hungarian Embassy; Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea; Romanian Embassy); representatives of academia (Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts); NGO representatives (Green Home, MANS, MOST); private sector representatives (Montenegrin Union of Employers, MBA) as well as regional energy enterprise IREET. 

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Strategic Environmental Assessment is an iterative process, which should be carried out alongside the development of the plan or programme and therefore seen as a key tool for sustainable development. Acknowledging the importance of the process, the UNDP and the World Bank are giving its contribution to the process of public debates on the Draft Energy Strategy as one of the key development documents for the country.

UNDP Montenegro supports the process of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on the Draft Energy Strategy, which is being implemented by the international consulting company, the Land Use Consultants (LUC).

Complementary to the UNDP’s work, the World Bank also secured the funds for conducting the components of the SEA on the Draft Energy Strategy. The UNDP and the World Bank agreed on the respective areas of responsibility to ensure the highest level of cooperation and most effective use of the resources by both organizations.

To see Mr. Nelson’s presentation, please click here

To see a local newspapers article on the conference, please click here