“Certain savings measures have been defined, the situation is being monitored and depending, primarily, on the hydrological conditions in the coming period, further measures will be defined, for which I believe that a coordinated, synchronized action of all countries is needed”, said Ibrahimović.
The Vice-President of the Government of Montenegro for Regional Development and the Minister of Capital Investments in the Technical Mandate of Montenegro, Ervin Ibrahimović, and the State Secretary in the Ministry of Capital Investments, Admir Šahmanović, are participating in the round table of the energy ministers of the Western Balkan countries, as part of the Berlin Process.
“This two-day event held in Berlin, apart from officials and government representatives, also gathers representatives of the most important international financial institutions, EBRD, EIB, KfW, as well as the German Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Change in the Government of Germany opened the round table with an opening address. In light of the energy crisis and constant changes in this area, the main topics for discussion at this important meeting are the energy transition of the countries of the Western Balkans and investment opportunities and conditions, first of all the need to strengthen the capacity of renewable energy sources”, the Ministry of Capital Investments announced.
In his address, Ibrahimović emphasized that Montenegro is facing the same challenges as all economies in the world.
“The energy crisis gripped the world at a specific moment, after the global fight against the virus pandemic, for which we all believed that thanks to the development of technology and medicine in the modern age, such a scenario is no longer possible. After that, we face a new honor, the war conflicts in Ukraine, which affect not only the global supply chains, both energy, goods and services, but inevitably also the paradigm of behavior and business”, said Ibrahimović.
Everyone, he added, needs a strong, politically and economically independent Montenegro, oriented towards development and the European system of values.
“In this sense, I see the energy transition as a path on which it is necessary to simultaneously ensure support for the most vulnerable segments of society while at the same time launching a strong campaign that would indicate the importance of a long-term orientation towards a green economy, but also continuous encouragement of structural reform measures and the realization of capital infrastructural projects that have regional influence”, said Ibrahimović during his presentation, adding that:
“Montenegro harmonizes its energy policy and regulations with the policy and legislation of the European Union in the field of energy and the environment. Accordingly, we are working on the preparation of the first National Energy and Climate Plan, which should be adopted by June 2024. It will be the development plan of the energy sector of Montenegro, which will aim to satisfy the demand for energy, ensuring the implementation of the clean energy transition and the minimal negative impact of the energy sector on climate change”, said Ibrahimović.
As announced, Montenegro strives to fulfill all obligations from the Energy Community Agreement and successfully contributes to the development of the regional energy market and its integration into the energy market of the European Union.
“In accordance with such determination, the goal of the Government of Montenegro is to create conditions for more intensive use of domestic energy potentials, especially renewable ones. Considering that Montenegro has significant potentials of renewable energy sources, such as hydro potential, wind potential, solar radiation and biomass, our the priority was and remains the production of renewable and clean energy. Thanks to the support of the EBRD, the preparation of the Law on Renewable Energy Sources has begun, which should create the prerequisites for the market mechanism of the inclusion of the private sector”, the announcement states.
At the end of the presentation, Deputy Prime Minister for Regional Development and Minister of Capital Investments Ibrahimović informed the audience that the Government of Montenegro has formed a National Council for the analysis and monitoring of the security of supply of energy and energy products.
“Certain savings measures have been defined, the situation is being monitored and depending, primarily, on the hydrological conditions in the coming period, further measures will be defined, for which I believe that a coordinated, synchronized action of all countries is needed. Only the exchange of experiences and good examples from practice in such situations is more than welcome, and this is another opportunity that should further encourage regional cooperation”, concluded Vice President Ibrahimović.
During the round table, the Vice President for Regional Development in the Government of Montenegro and the Minister of Capital Investments visited the Embassy of Montenegro in Germany and spoke with Chargé d’Affaires Zdravko Jovović, local media writes.
