The wastewater treatment plant in Botun has completed slightly more than 70% of its concrete-surface pouring and reinforcement work, with more than 140 workers pouring over 1,000 cubic metres of concrete a week, Aleksandar Nišavić, director of the water utility Vodovod, said. The workforce is progressing on structures at different stages, with concrete work finished at some and still under way at others.
“Excavation of all system units is 100% complete,” Nišavić said. The remaining concrete work is expected to finish by the end of 2026 or, depending on weather conditions, possibly in early 2027. Equipment installation is planned after that work is complete.
Equipment specified in the contract and project has been procured alongside preparatory and construction work, with most of it stored in a warehouse in Podgorica. The FIDIC contract allows procurement and construction to proceed in parallel, shortening the construction period and project completion timeline. Equipment will be installed as rough construction is completed at individual structures and conditions allow.
The next project phase is expected to enable most equipment to be installed in a short period, particularly for system phases 1 and 2, which cover wastewater collection and sludge treatment. Installation is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027 and is a prerequisite for testing and putting the system into operation.
Testing of the first and second phases, covering wastewater collection and sludge treatment, is scheduled for the end of 2027. Progressive testing of the complete system, including all three phases, is due to begin in January 2028. The plant is expected to be completed and tested by June 2028, when it could begin operating; once commissioned, it is intended to function as set out in the project.
