++ Delayed environmental review and decision-making raise serious concerns over transparency and governance ++ Procedural failures and legal shortcuts undermine public trust in Montenegro’s environmental commitments ++
The pristine Komarnica river as it winds through the secluded Komarnica canyon.
© Riders.me
These springs feeding the Komarnica River run over tufa formations, a rare Natura 2000 priority habitat.
© Montenegrin Ecologists Society (CDE-MES)
Protest performance during public debate on the Komarnica hydropower project in Podgorica, with placards stating "We don't destroy nature for 1% of electricity", "Killing a river is not development" and "Water is life, not profit."
© Montenegrin Ecologists Society (CDE-MES)Podgorica, Radolfzell. A coalition of over 200 international scientists, legal professionals, energy experts, and ecologists—together with more than 20 national NGOs—is calling on the Montenegrin government to immediately halt plans to construct the “Komarnica” hydropower plant in the canyon of the same name. In an open letter to national authorities, the signatories demand the cancellation of the controversial project, citing irreversible environmental damage, political interference, and failure to meet legal obligations.
Despite overwhelming ecological concerns and expert opposition, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure for the Komarnica hydropower project has been marked by serious irregularities. After the revision period, which lasted 855 days, the EIA report was resubmitted in February 2025, several months late and still plagued with significant shortcomings. These issues only strengthen civil society’s position that the report must be fully rejected. However, Montenegro’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to make an official decision. This delay has sparked concern that political pressure from the project developer may be compromising what should be a transparent, science-based process—raising serious questions about accountability and governance.
“We are awaiting the final decision from the EPA and demanding accountability from all responsible parties,” says Andrijana Mićanović, General Secretary of the Montenegrin Ecologists Society. “Approving this project would not only destroy a national treasure, but also further erode public trust in environmental decision-making.”
Despite widespread concerns from experts and civil society, the Montenegrin government appears determined to proceed with the project. Yet no proper cost-benefit, energy, or public interest analyses have been published. Independent assessments show construction costs have nearly doubled since 2012, soaring to €343 million, while the finished hydropower plant would contribute less than 2% to Montenegro’s total energy needs. Experts say that viable alternatives exist, such as hybrid solar and wind energy, which could provide greater returns without sacrificing ecosystems.
The call to stop Komarnica comes at a time when civil society across Montenegro is increasingly alarmed by recent political moves to enable mega-infrastructure investments by international actors that bypass legal norms in environmental governance. The European Commission has also raised serious concerns about how Parliament has paved the way for the development of the 12 km-long Velika beach—an untouched pearl of nature.
“As Montenegro continues its EU accession path, upholding environmental law, ensuring transparent processes, and protecting natural heritage must remain non-negotiable,” says Dr Amelie Huber, Freshwater Project Manager at EuroNatur.
Background information:
- Komarnica Canyon, one of Montenegro’s last wild rivers, is a recognised candidate site for both the EU Natura 2000 and Emerald Networks. At the national level, it is already protected as a Nature Park and Natural Monument. Its extraordinary biodiversity and untouched beauty have also prompted UNESCO experts to propose its inclusion in the Durmitor National Park.
- The Save Komarnica initiative, supported by EuroNatur and Montenegrin Ecologists Society, urges the government to reject the Komarnica dam and prioritise truly sustainable, science-based solutions.
- The 'Save the Blue Heart of Europe' campaign is coordinated by German and Austrian NGOs EuroNatur and Riverwatch, in partnership with organisations from Balkan countries. The campaign aims to protect the region's precious rivers, which are under threat from over 3,500 hydropower projects. It advocates against large dam projects, for example, that are carried out under the guise of 'green energy production'.
- Montenegrin Ecologists Society has conducted ecological, legal, and energy analyses, actively engaged local communities and international scientist, and organised campaigns to protect the Komarnica River from hydropower development. It has also monitored EIA processes and can provide all relevant information.
Press contact:
Andrijana Mićanović, ana.micanovic11(at)gmail.com, +382 69 883 485, General Secretary, Montenegrin Ecologists Society
Anika Konsek, anika.konsek(at)euronatur.org, Project Communications Manager, EuroNatur
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