Montenegro's Ministry of Economy seeks expressions of interest from consultants to develop a registry of potential small hydropower sites in 13 municipalities of central and northern Montenegro. Responses are due January 4, 2011.

With a budget of 270,000 euros (US$353,350), the project is being funded by the Czech Republic Official Development Assistance Fund under the auspices of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

In 2009, EBRD recruited legal services for development of renewable energy projects, including small hydropower, in Montenegro and other the western Balkan nations. Montenegro took bids in 2008 to develop 43 small hydropower sites on a design-build-operate-transfer basis.

The Ministry of Economy seeks a Czech consultant to prepare a registry of small rivers and potential hydropower plants of less than 1 MW each on the territory of 13 municipalities, Kolasin, Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Zabljak, Pljevlja, Andrijevica, Plav, Rozaje, Savnik, Pluzine, Niksic, and Danilovgrad.

The municipalities, in central and northern Montenegro, had approached the EBRD seeking support to develop the registry.

Only 17 percent of Montenegro's hydropower capacity has been utilized, mostly for large hydro plants. While the ministry is responsible for issuing hydro licenses, it is the responsibility of municipalities to issue concessions for licensed sites.

The chosen consultant is to identify and analyze streams in the 13 municipalities, conduct hydrological studies, determine possible small hydro project locations, prepare the registry, and disseminate findings through a stakeholder workshop. The work is expected to take 12 months beginning in January.

A solicitation notice may be obtained from the EBRD Internet site, http://www.ebrd.com/pages/workingwithus/procurement/notices/csu/31577.shtml.

Expressions of interest and qualifications, in English not to exceed 25 pages, are to be submitted by January 4 using EBRD's electronic consultant selection Internet site, eSelection, https://eselection.ebrd.com/suite.

For information, contact William Power, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London, United Kingdom; (44) 20-73386409; Fax: (44) 20-73387451; E-mail: ; Internet: www.ebrd.com.