Continuation of the TERNE and CGES Project
The laying of the undersea power cable from Montenegro to Italy began yesterday, several sources have confirmed to Dnevne novine. The first phase involves the laying of 157 kilometres of cable, and the work is being carried out by the Norwegian company Nexans. The company's specialised vessel, the 'Skarerrak', recently sailed into Montenegrin territorial waters and, according to DN's sources, will be laying the cable in the Adriatic Sea in two shifts over the coming days.
■ Cable Installation
The cable from the ship is being connected to the land-based section of the cable, which was ceremonially laid in October.
This project is the first energy bridge realised with a subsea cable between the EU and the Balkans. Across the Adriatic Sea, it will connect the Terna station in Villanova (Pescara), Italy, with the CGES station in Lastva Grbaljska, Montenegro.
The energy link between Italy and Montenegro is a project of strategic European importance. It represents a hub of exceptional significance for the European Energy Union, strengthening the electricity grid to integrate the entire Balkan region into the EU via Italy.
Montenegro occupies a special position and has a transmission network that is well-connected to its neighbours (BiH, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and via them to Bulgaria and Romania), putting it in a strategic position to act as an energy exchange platform. As a result of an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries, the project has been included by the European Commission among projects of common European interest.
Great benefits
Both countries benefit. The joint benefit is an increased security for both energy systems, through a direct current (HVDC) connection which contributes to the systems' adaptability, thanks to its rapid response time in the event of disruptions. The benefits for Italy include increased energy system security, particularly for central Italy, and further significance for the country's role as a hub for the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, around 35 companies and approximately 215 people are working on the construction site itself.
Also, the benefits for Montenegro are strengthening the country's role as an energy exchange platform for the Balkans and the EU, enhancing integration with the European energy market, the implementation of the plan to strengthen the national transmission network and the coastal area with high tourist traffic, and employment for over 500 people and more than 30 local companies during the project's implementation. Over 200 people will be employed on the construction site daily during the most demanding activities.
Project value one billion euros
In mid-November 2010, a contract was signed for the implementation of the project to connect Italy and Montenegro with a power cable. The contract was signed by the then Montenegrin Minister of Economy, Branko Vujović, the Chairman of the CGES Board of Directors, Zoran Đukanović, and the CEO of Terna, Flavio Cattaneo. The project is valued at around one billion euros, with Montenegro contributing one hundred million euros to its realisation.
The Italians continued setting up
The Italian company Terna has continued to lay an energy cable to Montenegro, Italian media recently reported. Work began on the Pescara coast and will be completed by 31 December.
Around another 250 kilometres of cable are to be laid on the bottom of the Adriatic Sea from the Italian side.
For the continuation of the project's implementation, the company 'Poliervizi SRL has been engaged, which will lay new kilometres of power cable on the bottom of the Adriatic Sea from the special vessel 'Ievoli'.
Due to the continuation of the project, the Port of Pescara has issued an order requiring all vessels to enter parts of the Adriatic Sea where the energy cable will be laid with caution. The port also announced that all vessels must remain 500 metres away from the vessel 'Ievoli, from which a cable will be laid daily into the Adriatic Sea until the end of 2016.
Source: Daily Newspaper