The Montenegrin Hydrocarbons Administration has issued a tender worth 11 million euros for the purchase of 16,500 metric tons (approximately 19.6 million liters) of fuel to initiate the country’s mandatory oil reserves. The tender calls for EN 590-grade diesel with strict conditions: it must be produced after 21 January 2026 and cannot be derived from Russian crude oil.
The tender, open until 23 December, is being expedited due to Montenegro’s obligation to complete procurement within 2025, a requirement tied to EU accession Chapter 15 on energy, which mandates the creation of compulsory fuel reserves in line with Directive 2009/119/EC. The Administration explained that the process could not start earlier because domestic storage capacity, both state-owned and private, was unavailable. A storage contract was finally signed in early December, enabling the start of the purchase. The government prioritizes storing reserves domestically, though state authorities had limited control over private storage facilities. For instance, Greek authorities only approved Jugopetrol’s storage in Greece in November 2025, forcing the company to rely on the Bar port terminal until then.
State-owned storage sites remain unusable, as refurbishment work overseen by the Ministry of Energy and Mining has not yet been contracted, despite earlier plans to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
Technical requirements for the diesel are precise: it must comply with the latest MEST EN 590 standard and national fuel-quality regulations, contain no more than 10 ppm of sulfur, meet a CFPP threshold of –15°C, and be clear and free of water or sediment. Suppliers must provide a Safety Data Sheet, quantity and quality certificates, and a certificate of origin before delivery. Diesel from refineries in third countries with access to Russian crude requires independent verification to confirm it was not refined from Russian feedstock.
The budget for the tender is capped at 11 million euros, covering a planned purchase of 16,500 metric tons, marking Montenegro’s first step toward establishing strategic fuel reserves.
