Ambassador of Slovenia H.E. Mitja Močnik paid an official visit to the municipality of Rožaje

The meeting was also attended by the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Slovenia, Mrs. Aleša Sovinc, and the director of the company Lumenia, Mr. Vladimir Marković, and the president of the SO Rožaje Husejin Kurtagić, the secretaries and the director of the PUK Rožaje with their associates.

The topic of discussion was the implementation of the LED lighting project, including other topics such as the Hajla-Štedim Rusolija project and the construction of mini-hydro power plants on the territory of the municipality of Rožaje.

The President of Rožaje Municipality, Mr. Ejup Nurković, emphasized that this visit is a confirmation of good cooperation between Montenegro and Slovenia, saying that Rožaje Municipality and Lenart Municipality from Slovenia are sister municipalities.

The President further referred to the implementation of the led (street) lighting project, which would significantly contribute to the quality of street lighting while saving a lot of electricity. The local administration formed a working group with a team of engineers headed by electrical engineer Safet Dacić, prof. where, in addition to high-quality lighting, electricity savings are also evident, where up to ten thousand euros could be saved annually.

The President further emphasizes that the municipality of Rožaje enters this pre-trial period in terms of taxation and that it chooses the best conditions and the bidder, and certainly the method and conditions of payment of contractual obligations if the project comes to fruition. And the basic postulate is that this project does not burden the municipal budget, but has a "self-sustaining" character through the difference in the amount of electricity consumed.

Ambassador of Slovenia H.E. Mitja Močnik, thanked for the warm welcome and emphasized that Slovenia participates to a large extent in aid in various areas in the north of Montenegro through: Government of Slovenia and Montenegro, Ministries, Center for International Cooperation and Development and other institutions. Every year, project proposals are harmonized and in this way the conditions are met for good projects to be adopted and in some cases even up to 50% percent co-financed from the funds of the Government of Slovenia. Also, the Embassy of Slovenia mediates communication between municipalities in Slovenia and Montenegro that have similar natural resources and in this way exchange positive experiences in the valorization of natural potentials in all spheres in order to raise the quality of life of citizens.

Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Slovenia, Mrs. Aleša Sovinc, said that since 2008 and until now, through the Center for International Cooperation and Development and other institutions, the Government of Slovenia has invested over 11 million euros in several different fields, and a good part of these funds has been invested in communal municipal development, including wastewater treatment, and one such project will soon begin in Plav Municipality. Ms. Sovinc emphasized that they, as an institution, will provide all formal legal assistance in the development and application of projects.

The director of the company "Lumenia", Mr. Vladimir Marković, said that he was very satisfied with the seriousness shown by the local administration of Rožaje in approaching this project. Among other things, he emphasized that the local administration of Rožaje will have all the advisory assistance in creating a project for the installation of LED lighting. As far as the technical part is concerned, the new system is implemented on the existing platform and is very sophisticated. The entire system is managed through "System smart", which has the possibility of upgrading and modernizing other utility activities, through which the collectability and quality of work, including the parking service, can be monitored. Marković said that with a well-done project, the conditions can be obtained to provide a donation of up to 50% of the necessary funds.

President of the board of directors of JKP Rožaje doo - Electrical engineer, Mr. Safet Dacić, prof. he said that as part of his profession, he tried to contribute to the implementation of led technology and the development of the project. He emphasized that the quality of the mentioned project was recognized very quickly, and with expertise and good will, the implementation and application of new technologies in this domain is very possible, stressing its safe profitability in lower consumption of electricity.

Written by: Mirza Luboder

Photo: Mirza Luboder