November 14, 2018 - Bearing in mind the realization of large infrastructure projects in the sectors of transport, energy and tourism, it is necessary to make a decision as soon as possible on the possibility of starting the cement production in Pljevlja and valorizing quality resources, which, for this purpose, this area is rich in, it was estimated at a meeting in the Chamber of Commerce Montenegro, which was attended by the President of this association, Vlastimir Golubović, and the Minister of Economy, Dragica Sekulić, with associates, representatives of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the Municipality of Pljevlja, the Electric Power Industry of Montenegro, the Coal Mine, Railway Infrastructure, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and prominent businessmen.
According to Golubovic, Montenegro imported cement worth 41,149,891 euros in the previous year, while in the first nine months of this year 39,043,241 euros were spent for that purpose. He also said that the Strategy for the Development of Civil Engineering in Montenegro by 2020 foresees building the capacity for the production of cement, with the full respect of the ecological standards of environmental protection and quality of life, as well as new capacities for the production of brick, gypsum, and additives.
The cement factory should be built in Pljevlja, according to the initiative, because this municipality is rich in marl, coal, fly ash and gypsum.
This would allow the valorization of marl which, in the exploitation of coal, is a waste. Using marls for the needs of the cement factory would reduce the area for the outlying landfills and the costs of coal production. The use of fly ash from TPP Pljevlja would substantially solve the problem of its disposal. An optimal valorization of coal with higher thermal efficiency would be achieved. As a basic energy fuel, coal from the Pljevlja basin would be used.
By building a factory of cement, and later other plants for the production of concrete semi-finished products and finished products, it would be possible to increase the road traffic, rail and port capacities. By opening a cement factory and through related jobs, it would be possible to employ 800 to 1000 workers.
PHOTO: PKCG
During the meeting, besides the economic benefits, it was also pointed to the ecological reasons, since the cement plant would also use the by-products of the Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja as a raw material. Businessmen believe that it is necessary to find an experienced and quality investor who, using modern technology, will make the best use of this raw material and be able to sell the produced cement quantities on the regional market in conditions of strong competition.
They point out that the old cement factory in Pljevlja, which has been working for 12 years, produced better quality cement than the competition in the region, that is, Dalmatia, Kosjeric and Kostolac. The divided opinions were heard whether the precondition for the construction and operation of cement factory is the realization of a railway line project between Bijelo Polje and Pljevlja. It was pointed out that the transport of cement to road traffic routes would lead to their possible rapid damage, but on the other hand, it was pointed out also the example of Kosjeric where the railways are not used for this purpose at all.
According to Sekulić, the project for the construction of a cement plant requires a serious private investor who could place Montenegrin cement on the market of the region or beyond. The investor is the one who should recognize the economic interest and ultimately whether the construction of the cement plant is acceptable. The model that the investor can elaborate can also involve the construction of the mentioned railway line. The state, he said, is developing an environment that is attractive for investment and will soon organize a public tender for expressions of interest and present the mineral resources available, which can be used for the production of the cement.
PHOTO: PKCG
"In this way, we will get feedback from the businessmen, about the willingness to invest as well as the possible models of using the mineral resources we have available. If the interest in investing in the cement plant is expressed, then the creation of documentation would involve the granting of marl for concession and specification other conditions whose fulfillment would contribute to the profitability of this business," Sekulić said.
Mirko Djacic, president of the municipality of Pljevlja, said that the undeniable advantages of a cement plant in terms of hiring people and using the by-products of the thermal power plant are there. He thinks that the most complex challenge is to find investors. According to him, it can be a strong private company or the state through the Coal Mine or Electro company of Montenegro.
The long-time director of the Coal Mine and the former cement factory in Pljevlja, Djordjie Dzuverovic, said that the cement from Pljevlja had very good results in terms of water-resistances and color that is suitable for natural-concrete - very demanded in the world market. He believes that for the construction of a new cement factory, it is necessary first to remedy the current ecological problems in that town by central heating with the source from the Thermal Power Plant. Director of Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant Vladimir Šestović said that ash, slag, and chemical gypsum are a big problem for this company and that the cement factory is a unique chance that all this by-product and marl from the waste-point Jagnjilo to be used as raw materials. Ljubisa Ćurčić, the director of Railway Infrastructure, said that this company completed the preliminary design of the construction of the railroad’s route Pljevlja-Bijelo Polje in the length of 56.42 kilometers. In the first years, it would transport 1.2 million tons of cargo, and later up to 1.7 million tons.
He believes that the construction of this railroad route is necessary for the functioning of the cement plant. Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering dr. Radenko Pejovic believes that it is necessary to speed up the processes related to the construction of the cement factory, and assessed that the opportunity for the business that was brought by the intensive construction in Montenegro was missed.
Text by Vijesti online, on November 13th, 2018, read more at Vijesti
