Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) AD Nikšić has announced a new tender for the construction of hydraulic structures to connect the Krupac and Slano reservoirs.
The tender includes updating the main project documentation and carrying out construction works, with a total value of €12 million (excluding VAT). The deadline for submitting bids is August 4, with the bid opening scheduled for the same day.
The project is divided into two phases:
- Phase 1 involves updating the existing main project documentation, with a budget allowance up to 3% of the Phase 2 construction cost. The deadline for Phase 1 is six months after contract signing.
- Phase 2 covers the construction of hydraulic infrastructure linking the Krupac and Slano reservoirs, scheduled to last 30 months from the start date.
A 10-year warranty applies to critical works affecting structural safety and stability, starting from handover, while other works have a 24-month warranty.
HE Perućica hydropower plant, with an installed capacity of 307 MW, is one of Montenegro’s largest electricity producers, generating about 932 GWh annually. It relies on the water system in the Nikšić field, utilizing the river Zeta’s favorable topography and a total elevation drop of 550 meters.
The system includes four dams forming two main reservoirs—Krupac and Slano—and two retention basins (Vrtac and Slivlje), though the latter are unsuitable for water regulation due to karstic terrain. The water intake system consists of interconnected canals, tunnels, and pipelines to ensure efficient water delivery to the power plant without losses.
Currently, geological challenges and limited storage capacity reduce optimal use of available water resources. The Krupac reservoir frequently fills but has limited useful volume, while Slano’s reservoir rarely reaches full capacity, leaving untapped storage potential.
Initial studies and project plans dating back to 1968 proposed connecting the two reservoirs and diverting part of the Zeta river flow to Krupac to better utilize water resources, but these plans were never implemented.
The project’s main goal is to improve energy efficiency by optimizing the use of reservoir capacities through hydraulic connection.
The planned infrastructure includes a tunnel between Krupac and Slano starting at Crnodoli (intake structures, channel, gates) and ending at Kuside (outlet portal and channel).
Earlier this year, EPCG issued a similar tender valued at €10.5 million, also aimed at linking these reservoirs through construction and project updates.
