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Montenegro aims to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible mining that respects local communities while supporting EU integration and strategic mineral initiatives, said Marko Vučinić, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy and Mining.
Key points from Vučinić’s interview include:
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- New mining legislation: A revised law on geological exploration is expected by year-end to align with European standards, simplify procedures, and focus on hydrogeology, seismic studies, and environmental rehabilitation. This will benefit investors, particularly in construction and mining sectors, by providing better access to geologic data through a geologic cadastre.
- Employment and economic role: The mining sector employs over 5,000 people, including both mineral extraction and technical/construction stone. There are currently 53 concessions for geological research and resource exploitation.
- Sustainability and regulation: The new law aims to streamline processes, enforce quality and safety standards, regulate blasting, and prevent illegal mining, following examples from Croatia.
- Resource potential: Montenegro holds significant critical minerals, including red and white bauxite, lead, zinc, technical and architectural stone, and barite in Pljevlja. Many deposits remain underexplored, and recent discoveries include copper in Varine and rare minerals in the Red Mud basin in Podgorica.
- Human capital challenges: Montenegro lacks a geology and mining faculty, creating a skills gap. The Ministry is exploring funding for new programs, scholarships, and possibly a dedicated university faculty to train specialists for this growing sector.
The government emphasizes balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and European integration while modernizing mining governance and promoting sustainable exploitation of natural resources.
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