Montenegro’s Pljevlja thermal power plant will stop generating electricity on 31 October for scheduled maintenance, temporarily taking the country’s largest thermal generation source offline as regional markets enter the higher-demand winter period. The outage is expected to last through the first half of November. The work is intended to prepare the coal-fired unit for reliable winter operation.
Since the start of 2026, the plant has generated more than 1.07 TWh, exceeding its production targets, according to its management. Director Ivan Starovlah said it had operated continuously for the two months before the planned shutdown. Since January, it has recorded 42 non-generating days and otherwise run at its available capacity.
Maintenance and equipment inspections
Maintenance will cover generating equipment, valves, ash-handling systems and wastewater-treatment infrastructure. Engineers will also inspect the environmental installations that remove sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from flue gases. Those systems were included in the plant’s recent environmental modernisation.
The outage will also be used for preventive repairs to address technical issues identified during operations. The work is scheduled ahead of the increase in winter demand.
Role in Montenegro’s winter power balance
Pljevlja is particularly important when weak hydrological conditions constrain Montenegro’s hydroelectric production. Its temporary absence can materially increase EPCG’s exposure to regional imports and cross-border prices.
Plant management expects generation to resume during November, with the facility prepared for winter. Southeast European spot prices are already elevated, making the reliability of the restart an important factor in Montenegro’s near-term power balance.
