The public consultation for the new Spatial Urban Plan (PUP) for Šavnik has reopened a long-running dispute in Montenegro after authors of a Strategic Environmental Assessment proposed removing the planned Komarnica Hydropower Plant from future development plans. The proposal is linked to discussions on the municipality’s long-term spatial development framework.
Environmental experts involved in the assessment said the hydropower project poses significant ecological risks for the Komarnica canyon and surrounding protected natural areas. They argued that protecting the canyon’s environmental and landscape value should be prioritized over large-scale energy infrastructure in the area.
Assessment recommendation and implications for planning
The recommendation has revived a debate involving Montenegro’s energy sector, environmental organizations, and local authorities. Supporters of the Komarnica project say it is among the country’s remaining domestic renewable energy opportunities.
They add that the project could strengthen energy security, reduce electricity imports, and support future industrial demand as electrification accelerates. Opponents argue that environmental impacts would outweigh potential benefits.
Environmental groups have previously highlighted the Komarnica canyon as one of Montenegro’s most valuable river ecosystems. Their concerns focus on biodiversity effects, habitat disruption, and irreversible changes to the landscape.
Energy strategy context and market policy pressures
The issue comes as Montenegro pursues deeper integration with European energy markets while expanding renewable generation capacity. The country is also working to balance decarbonization goals with rising electricity demand.
Large hydropower projects have historically been central to Montenegro’s electricity system. At the same time, newer renewables such as wind, solar, and battery storage are increasingly competing for policy attention and investment capital.
The Strategic Environmental Assessment authors said alternative development pathways should be considered within the municipal planning framework, with emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable land-use management. They noted that their recommendation does not automatically end the project but increases pressure on policymakers reviewing Montenegro’s future energy mix.
Regional challenge and consultation timeline
The dispute also reflects a broader challenge across Western Balkan countries. Governments face pressure to expand low-carbon electricity generation and improve energy independence while aligning with increasingly strict European environmental standards.
Projects previously assessed mainly through an energy security lens are now being evaluated against criteria including biodiversity protection, ecosystem preservation, and climate resilience. In Montenegro, outcomes from the Šavnik planning process could influence how future infrastructure is positioned in strategic documents.
If Komarnica is excluded from strategic planning documents, it would mark a major environmental policy shift in Montenegro’s recent energy history. Keeping the project would likely mean the dispute continues through future permitting and regulatory stages as public consultation proceeds .
Throughout the consultation process, Komarnica remains at the center of two competing development models described by stakeholders: expanding domestic electricity production via large infrastructure investments versus preserving high-value natural assets while accelerating alternative renewable technologies .
