Major water supply project for Montenegro’s coast comes to successful close

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic inaugurates Regional Water Supply System for Montenegrin coast, a facility capable of producing enough water for the whole Mediterranean region 

 “The completion of this facility brings Montenegro considerably closer to achieving the vision of a highly developed tourist destination and a society offering opportunities for improved quality of life for our people,” Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said at the launch of the Regional Water Supply System for the Montenegrin coast on Wednesday, 29 September.

“In the 21st century, water has become a strategic resource. Today, in many areas throughout Europe the gap between demand and supply of water has reached an alarming level.”

“With this project, Montenegro has used part of its dringing water supplies, which is becoming an increasingly scarce and precious resource throughout the world. The capacity of the Water Supply System enables year-round production of water that could meet the needs of the Mediterranean and beyond.“

He noted that many years had passed since the idea of the project was first mooted.

“Since the mid-1960s, when the modern Montenegrin economy began to take shape, in which tourism and services would play a major role and become Montenegro’s trademarks in the global economic and social arena, it became clear that inadequate water supply to the coast would be a limiting factor for development.”

“Next came the years of crisis, the breakup of the former federal state, sanctions, wars in the region and an economic collapse, which brought Montenegro, as part of an unstable region, to the brink of existence.”

“Even during this period, the government kept the Regional Water Supply Project alive, by funding construction works for certain sections of the facility,” the Prime Minister said, adding that it was only after Montenegro regained its independence and reinforced stability that the state was capable of raising funds for the project on the international capital market.

He concluded by saying: “After 35 years of effort, Montenegro has finally obtained an extremely valuable and, for future economic development, vitally important infrastructure asset.”