The Director of the Pljevlja Coal Mine, Nemanja Laković, stated that the company is expected to finish this year with a profit of 15 million euros, but that the upcoming year will be one of survival. Despite these challenges, the mine plans to increase its workforce to 1,300 through changes in its organizational structure.
In an interview for Radio CG’s “Link” show, Laković said that this business year will be a record one in terms of both production and financial results.
“We will have a profit of about 15 million euros, and our production targets have been exceeded. We are closing the year with successful results,” Laković explained, adding that 2025 will be one of the most challenging years for the mine.
Currently, the mine employs 1,260 workers, and with the new organizational changes, the workforce is expected to grow to 1,300.
“The plan is to increase the number of people in production and security services,” Laković noted.
He emphasized that the company has conducted tenders over the years to hire security personnel, and now they are planning to make those positions permanent.
“We will redirect the 800,000 to 1 million euros we’ve been spending annually on security services to the salaries of employees in this sector, and we plan to increase the number of employees,” Laković explained.
The growth in production demands additional workers, and as part of the transformation plan, Laković outlined plans to separate 10 companies from the Coal Mine. One of these companies will be a construction group, which is already working for both RUP and EPCG, as well as on the market.
“The plan is to separate all these companies from the Coal Mine system so they can operate independently on the market,” Laković stated.
Plans also include opening up the transport service to the market. “We have over 60 trucks in the mine, and we plan to take the laboratory to the market as well. We have the ‘Durutovići’ hydropower project, and the cleaning and security services. I believe the transformation plan is well done,” Laković added.
The Coal Mine is also expecting the reconstruction of the Pljevlja thermal power plant (TPP), which will last for eight months, during which time RUP will not supply coal.
As a result, the mine could lose 48 million euros in revenue next year, according to Laković.
“We are also entering into a 20 million euro loan for the Ćehotina River project and an expropriation project in the village of Klaušići worth 3.2 million euros. This leads us to the conclusion that next year will be a year of survival. It will show how important the TE system and the Coal Mine are for Montenegro,” Laković said, adding that they expect to enter a more stable period by 2026.
“The next year will be one of addressing overdue issues, not achieving results,” Laković explained.
He also warned that if the Ćehotina River project is not completed, coal production will be significantly impacted. The project must be finished by November 1st next year.
Additionally, the Board of Directors of Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has reportedly asked its subsidiary, the Pljevlja Coal Mine (RUP), to pay the dividend for 2022 and 2023 to the parent company. The management and board of RUP have opposed this request, citing the challenges they face in the coming year.
Laković did not deny these claims but confirmed that the companies maintain a cooperative relationship.
“The meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for December 26, and we will see what the plan is. I am confident that the functioning of RUP will be taken into account during the difficult year ahead, which is 2025. We will see – the dividend may not need to be paid in full,” Laković concluded.
