The Montenegrin electricity transmission system took centre stage at the International Conference Energy Week Western Balkans 2025, which was held on 8 and 9 October in Montenegro. This prestigious event brought together more than 250 leaders from the energy sector, governments, financial institutions and international investors to discuss the accelerated energy transition of the Western Balkans.
As part of the conference, a panel entitled 'Investing in Network Modernisation for a Renewable Future' was held, in which he participated. Aleksandar Mijušković, Chairman of the CGES Board of Directors. When asked what he considers the biggest operational challenge for Montenegro's electricity system as the demands for connecting renewable sources grow, Mijušković answered:
The Montenegrin electricity system has been facing operational challenges related to the integration of RES (renewable energy sources) for some time. A significant proportion of RES is connected in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, and we are also receiving information about the connection of new power plants in the Western Balkan countries. Under these conditions, the system is subject to strong market influence, i.e., significant changes in power flows, both in direction and intensity, on an almost hourly basis. To improve the situation, activities are being carried out in two directions:
Strengthening the grid is essential, as new power plants with capacities several times greater than existing ones will be connected, as well as the implementation of European Union legislation in Montenegro and other Western Balkan countries.
In response to other questions, Mijušković, among other things, stressed that regional cooperation is of vital importance both for ensuring the conditions for the green transition and for the reliable operation of the system under the current circumstances. He emphasised that the construction of the interconnection with Italy has provided significant benefits for CGES and for Montenegro as a whole, such as direct connection to the single European market, significant investments in infrastructure and the modernisation of the entire network, a significant improvement in the security of supply for consumers in Montenegro, and the modernisation and organisational strengthening of the CGES-a through cooperation with Terna and securing significant revenues through congestion management and the ITC mechanism.
CGES continues to lead the modernisation of Montenegro's electricity system and to ensure a reliable supply in an era of growing demand for renewable energy sources.