EBRD mulls lending 28 mln euro to Montenegro's CGES

Brezna is located in the northwestern municipality of Pluzine. Its planned revamp will include the installation of two power transformers of 400/110 kV that will upgrade it to 400/110/35 kV from current 110/35 kV. The new power transformers will be connected to the national transmission network via the new 400 kV overhead line (OHL) Lastva-Pljevlja, which is currently in a development stage, the EBRD said in a statement on Tuesday.

The project, with a total cost of 36 million euro, will allow the integration of at least 300 MW of new large-scale renewable energy power plants with the Brezna substation, currently in the preliminary stages of development by private companies. The project is also expected to reduce energy losses by an estimated 4MWh, equating to the annual emission reduction of over 6,000 tonnes of CO2, the bank said.

"The 400/110 kV Brezna substation represents important part of the transmission system of the Montenegrin Electric Transmission System from the point of view of connecting the transmission line 400 kV Cevo - Pljevlja 2 with the existing power grid of Montenegro and forming a 400 kV ring," the EBRD explained.

The loan is slated for approval on May 1.

CGES owns and operates 55 transformer units and 59 transmission lines at 400kV, 220kV, and 110kV voltage level that are about 1,512 km long. Its total transformation capacity comprises 4,166 MVA. Its interconnectivity with neighbouring power systems includes Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Italy (via an undersea cable).

($ = 0.926 euro)