The Montenegrin Ministry of Oil and Gas has launched a third tender to select a contractor for the long-delayed overhaul of the state-owned oil storage tanks in the Adriatic port of Bar. The project is valued at 1.8 million euros, the same as in the two previous tenders, with the deadline for bid submissions set for October 21.
The first tender, announced in February, attracted no bids, while the second, held in August, was unsuccessful after both submitted offers were disqualified. The selected contractor will have nine months to complete the project. Once modernized, the storage facility—featuring a total capacity of 17,600 cubic meters—will serve as Montenegro’s central hub for maintaining emergency oil reserves, a key requirement under European Union energy legislation.
The modernization project is an important step in fulfilling Montenegro’s EU accession obligations under Chapter 15 on Energy. The European Commission has approved 7.5 million euros in funding to support the country’s compliance efforts, with 1.8 million euros earmarked specifically for refurbishing the Bar facility. The remaining funds will be used to establish initial mandatory oil reserves.
Montenegro is required to build up two-thirds of its emergency reserves during 2025 and 2026. The government plans to initiate the first diesel procurement soon, although the Bar site is not expected to become operational until late 2026. In the meantime, oil reserves will be stored abroad under leasing contracts lasting at least three years.
In addition to the Bar facility, Montenegro operates two other oil storage sites: one in Bijelo Polje with a capacity of 24,700 cubic meters, and another in Lipci near Kotor with 10,000 cubic meters. Both facilities, managed by state-owned company Montenegro Bonus, also require refurbishment to meet EU standards.
