Montenegro: Project for doubling the production of HPP Perucica

The study for Krupac and Slano reservoirs is put for public consultation, as well as an assessment of the environmental impact for this project. According to this study, the positive energy-related effects of transferring part of the water from the Zeta river into the Krupac reservoir and merging the Krupac and Slano reservoirs are reflected in an increase in the share of average annual production from reservoir compared to the total annual production of HPP Perucica plant from 22 % to 45 % and reduced water losses.
The draft study states that by implementing this, better utilization of water potential would be achieved. In this way, the possibility of managing the higher water inflow is created which leaves more space for better operational management of the operation of HPP Perucica.
HPP Perucica was put into operation in 1960, while it reached the current production capacity in 1976. Its work is based on the utilization of the water potential of a watercourse in the upper Zeta basin and a height difference of over 500 meters. At current conditions, it is not possible to take full advantage of the abundance of available water due to the very complex geological conditions and the lack of reservoir space to level the flow.
HPP Perucica produced 952 GWh of electricity in 2019, which is 3.5 % more than planned, while HPP Piva produced 665 GWh or 11.3 % less than planned.