Montenegro has extended the deadline for its ongoing tender to lease fuel storage capacity for strategic petroleum reserves, moving the closing date from 27 October to 4 November. All other terms and conditions of the tender remain unchanged.
According to the tender specifications, the Government is seeking to lease facilities with a capacity to store between 15,000 and 20,000 cubic meters of EN 590 diesel fuel over a three-year period. The selected operator will be responsible for maintaining the quality and quantity of the stored fuel, managing operational logistics, and providing insurance coverage against standard risks.
This initiative is part of Montenegro’s broader effort to align with EU energy security legislation, which requires member and candidate states to maintain emergency fuel reserves sufficient for three months of domestic consumption in case of supply disruptions. In parallel, the Government plans to launch an €11 million procurement tender in 2025 to purchase between 14,000 and 17,000 tons of diesel, depending on storage capacity and market conditions.
At present, private fuel importers have met 40% of their obligation to maintain national reserves, while the remaining 60% remains under state responsibility. The Ministry of Energy stated that Jugopetrol, Montenegro’s largest fuel retailer and a subsidiary of Greece’s Helleniq Energy, currently operates the only facilities capable of meeting the technical and safety standards required for such storage.
However, if Jugopetrol’s commercial terms prove unsatisfactory, the Government may seek to lease storage capacity abroad, particularly in Croatia or Italy. While Montenegro plans to use its state-owned oil terminal in the port city of Bar for future strategic reserves, the facility is undergoing major renovation works and is not expected to be operational before the end of 2026. In the meantime, the country will rely on leased storage contracts of at least three years to ensure compliance with EU-mandated strategic fuel reserve obligations.
