The Trans-Balkan corridor is a set of elements of the 400 kV electricity transmission network, which should allow better energy interconnection between Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, as well as their connection with the immediate surroundings. This cluster consists of the project of interconnection between Montenegro and Italy (a new undersea cable Lastva (MNE) – Villanova (Italy), converter stations in Italy and Montenegro and SS 400/110/35 kV Lastva), as well as the projects of construction and reinforcements in internal 400 kV network in Montenegro and Serbia, and construction of the 400 kV interconnection overhead lines between Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Trans-Balkan corridor aims to improve conditions for electricity transmission from the north to the southern part of the region, thus allowing the further integration of the electricity market as one of the priorities of the European energy policy.
The section of the Trans-Balkan corridor passing through Montenegro includes the following projects:
- 400 kV OHL Lastva – Pljevlja (sections 400 OHL kV Lastva – Čevo and 400 kV OHL Čevo – Pljevlja), including SS 400/110/35 kV Lastva;
- 400 kV OHL Pljevlja – Bajina Bašta (section through Montenegro);
- associated reconstructions and reinforcements in the system: reconstruction of protection system and replacement of HV equipment in several transmission substations.
As part of the Trans-Balkan corridor, when developing the ENTSO-E Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP), these projects were included in the list of projects of Pan-European importance. The corridor is a direct continuation of the project of common interest to EU member states (PCI lists for 2013 and 2015) – 3.19. – the undersea cable Italy – Montenegro.
The entire corridor, envisaged by the ENTSO-E Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP), includes the following projects in the territory of neighboring countries:
- 400 kV OHL Višegrad – Bajina Bašta,
- 400 kV OHL Obrenovac – Bajina Bašta,
- 400 kV OHL Kragujevac – Kraljevo,
- 400 kV OHL Pljevlja 2 - Bajina Bašta.
The 400 kV OHL Pljevlja 2-Bajina Bašta project in the territory of Montenegro includes the construction of:
- a double-circuit 400 kV overhead line Pljevlja – border with Serbia, 15,7 km long;
- two new 400 kV overhead line bays in SS Pljevlja 2.
The Feasibility Study of the new 400 kV interconnection between Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was developed in the previous period and received a positive opinion in 2015.
The Trans-Balkan corridor – grid section in Montenegro will be financed by CGES funds, loan arrangements with EBRD and KfW Bank, as well as funds (grants) allocated by the European Commission within the Berlin Process at the Western Balkan 6 Summit held in Vienna in 2015, the implementation of which is in charge of the German Development Bank (KfW).
At the request of EMS, the Feasibility Study is currently being updated due to new developments that have come up in the meantime. Preliminary designs for part of the project in Montenegro will be also prepared within the study, which is planned for 2020.
The development of Detailed Spatial Plan (DSP) for the corridor of the 2x400 kV overhead line Pljevlja 2 - Bajina Bašta for the section in the territory of Montenegro is in the final stage, which is expected to be adopted in 2020.