Business Environment Macroeconomic Outlook Capital Market Banking Sector Privatization and Investments Economic Freedom Business News In the Spotlight Coming up...
In the Spotlight Investment potential of Montenegro With its unique natural resources and geographical position, Montenegro is an attractive area, and is suitable for the development of numerous types of industrial activities. The major sectors that could be developed, and that have available natural resources, are currently characterized by alow level of achievement in comparison to their overall potential. The following sectors have much potential that is presently not being exploited: mineral resources, agriculture and forestry, tourism and energy.
Exploitation of mineral resources
Montenegro is rich in reserves of raw minerals. Previous research has shown that there are 28 types of minerals present in Montenegro but that only 15 of them are being exploited. - The most significant mineral resources are: • •
•
•
•
Coal and mikrolignit - mikrolignit was found throughout the length of the river Ćehotina with reserves of 232.54 million tons. Coal, brown coal - coal reservs were discovered in the valley of the river Lim and in the beds of Berane and Polić Lakes. In the Lim river valley, the reserves of brown coal amount to 30 million tons, with a potential total amount of up to 100 million tons. Oil and gas – regarding oil and gas, research was carried out for both the land and coastal areas of Montenegro. Previous research pointed out the potential of the land, particularly in coastal areas where it is estimated that there are about 12.5 billion tons of coal. Red bauxite – deposits of red bauxite have been foundat over 90 sites in Montenegro. The largest and richest sites are in Visoki Krš and in the Adriatic-Ionian area. Research has identified reserves of red bauxite that have a total capacity of 96,244,000 tons. Lead and zinc - deposits of lead and zinc are located in the north and north-east of Montenegro. Previous studies have shown that the capacity of lead and zinc reserves are somewhere in the region of 46.83 million tons.
- Architectural and building stone (decorative stone)– significant reserves of architectural and building stone have been foundin 20 locations, and lesser amounts are known to be present at an additional 25 sites. These sites include the following: Zeta valley has reserves of 1.5 million m3; the area surrounding the municipality Kolašin has over 2 million m3; Andrijevica has over 2 million m3; part of the municipality of Nikšić (Lipovo) has about 2 million m3; the coastal area of Boka (Gornja Lastva has reserves of 714,000 m3); Kamenjari and Đurići together have over 6 million m3; Luštica has reserves of around 400,000 m3); in the municipality of Bar, Crmnica has reserves of around 460,000 m3; and in the Ulcinj area there are reserves of rigid totalling around 1,000,000 m3. The total reserves of ornamental stone in Montenegro amount to approximately 15 million m3, with an estimated capacity of 50,000,000 m3.
Agriculture and forestry
Building stone - there are limitless quantities of building stone in Montenegro, and such stone can be found in most municipalities.
- Today, Montenegro operates 17 quarries, of which 12 are located in coastal regions: Volujica Goran, Velji Zabio, Možura, Orlovo, Borik II, Darza, Ristova Ponta, Haj-Nehaj, Velja Spilja, Oblatno, Platac, Lješevići, Gajevi, Podi. In the central region there are the following quarries: Midova Kosa and Budoš. Finally, in the northern region there are the following quarries: Kaluđerski Laz, Bušnje and Štitarica. Total reserves are estimated at around 38 million tons. • Gravel and sand - gravel and sand are excavated from a number of sites in the municipalities of Žabljak, Plužine, Šavnik, Nikšić, as well as in Grahovo, Dragaljsko, from the Zeta and Bjelopavlići plains and the river beds of the Morača, Tara, Lim and Ćehotina rivers. • Brick clay– the largest resorces of clay are located in the Ćehotina riverbed, in them unicipality of Pljevlja (dozens millions of tons) and in the river Lim, namely at Jasikovac (1.3 million tons). Also, there are additional deposits in the municipalities of Kolašin, Bijelo Polje, Spuž, Tivat and Ulcinj. The overall deposits of brick clay are around 15 million tons. • Cement marl - cement marl is located in the Ćehotina river bed, around Pljevlja (deposits of around 93 million tons), the Lim river bed, in Bjelopavlići (about 30 million tons) and in the Crmnica and Ulcinj areas (about 20 million tons). • Sea salt - (60% chlorine and 40% natrium) is extracted from sea water only at the Solana Bajo Sekulić in the municipality of Ulcinj. • Underground water (fresh, mineral and thermal waters) – fresh subterranean water is only bottled from two sources (Gornja Bukovica and Gornja Plašnica). However, activities aimed at using this water have been planned in eight other locations. There is only one known source of thermal water in Montenegro and that is in the river canyon, Komarnica. • Mineral waters sources exist in the Lim and Ibar rivers as well as on the Montenegrin coast. Only mineral water from Bijelo Polje (Čeoče) is currently bottled.
Agriculture – As a part of a national Strategy of sustainable development in Montenegro, a special emphasis has been put on agriculture and tourism. 12