Latest updates on the fight for Komarnica

The battle to preserve the pristine Komarnica Canyon in Montenegro has reached a critical stage. Last month, project developer Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) submitted an updated version of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the Environmental Protection Agency. Despite being granted three years for revisions, the revised EIA still lacks crucial data and thorough analysis regarding the canyon’s biodiversity and the full extent of potential environmental damage. The report also fails to demonstrate that the proposed hydropower project is a justified, necessary and sustainable solution.

Blue Heart partner CDE MES, alongside 20 other NGOs from Montenegro, have therefore submitted an urgent appeal to the expert commission responsible for reviewing the EIA, emphasising that key ecological and socio-economic impacts have been overlooked or omitted. Another letter of public appeal to be submitted to Montenegrin authorities is currently being circulated for signatures among national and international experts and scientists.

To further raise public awareness and encourage civic engagement, MES and the Save Komarnica initiative are organising a public discussion in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, on April 1st. Experts in energy, biology, and environmental protection, along with civic activists, will present key arguments against the construction of the hydroelectric plant and provide the wider public and media with important updates on project plans and the Save Komarnica campaign. The event will also allow citizens to ask questions and voice their opinions.

Save the Date: From 22-24 May 2025, CDE MES and Save Komarnica will host the now traditional Komarnica Protest-Educational Camp. The camp aims to bring together nature enthusiasts, scientists, and environmental experts, allowing participants to experience the canyon’s beauty firsthand, exchange knowledge, and strengthen efforts to protect it. The camp serves not only as an act of resistance but also as an opportunity to highlight the canyon’s ecological and cultural significance, as well as its potential for local communities and visitors as a preserved wilderness area.

Want to read more about the Save Komarnica campaign? Check out the recently launched campaign website, which has up-to-date information on the project and the campaign’s history, news about ongoing activities, resources and photographs, as well as ways for the public to get involved.

Komarnica needs protection—let’s be its voice!