Over 40 non-governmental organizations, alongside more than 230 experts, public advocates, and citizens from Bar and other regions in Montenegro, have formally requested that the Government of Montenegro cease all activities related to the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and associated gas-fired power plant at the Port of Bar. The signatories emphasize the need for the authorities to adhere to the current Spatial Plan of Montenegro, uphold legal standards, and prioritize both public safety and environmental protection.
The collective statement raises multiple legal, institutional, economic, and environmental issues linked to the proposed gas infrastructure projects. Critics assert that advancing with the LNG terminal and gas power plant would pose financial risks to the state, jeopardize Montenegro’s climate commitments, and contradict decarbonization objectives set forth in both national and international policies. They also express serious safety concerns regarding seismic risks and potential explosions at the designated Bar port site, questioning whether existing maritime infrastructure is appropriate for such high-risk industrial applications.
Opposition to these projects is rooted in feedback from public consultations on the Spatial Plan, where community members consistently indicated that LNG infrastructure should be excluded. The Spatial Plan, which was approved by the Montenegrin parliament, eliminated provisions for such developments—a decision supported by local government entities and civil society. Nevertheless, government officials have since engaged in memorandums of understanding with foreign energy companies and participated in international energy discussions, raising concerns that established spatial planning decisions might be overturned or ignored.
Signatories also dispute assertions that these projects would deliver strategic energy advantages, highlighting that Montenegro lacks both domestic gas production and a distribution network. They warn that dependence on imported fossil fuel infrastructure could lead to long-term energy dependency and increased public debt. The appeal references a global trend where many developed nations are reconsidering investments in new fossil gas infrastructure in favor of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency measures, and storage technologies. They caution that LNG facilities could create a “carbon lock-in,” complicating efforts to meet mid-century climate targets.
The appeal calls on the Montenegrin government to definitively abandon plans for the Bar LNG terminal and gas power plant, ensure future energy project planning aligns with national climate goals and legal frameworks, and enhance transparency as well as civic engagement in decisions impacting Montenegro’s strategic energy infrastructure.
