Press release from the 111th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 111th session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The Cabinet adopted the Information on the condition of the red mud basins and the hazardous solid waste landfill at the site of the Aluminium Plant Podgorica, along with a Draft Decision determining the public interest for the implementation of the project “Reform of Waste Management in Montenegro – Remediation of the Red Mud Basins and the Hazardous Solid Waste Landfill at the Aluminium Plant site.” The Information highlights, inter alia, that reports of the Directorate for Inspection Affairs (Environmental Inspection), both from previous periods and more recent inspections conducted in June 2025, following regular and extraordinary controls – including those carried out after incidents reported by residents of nearby settlements – have established that the condition of the red mud basins and the surrounding area requires urgent intervention. The situation has been caused by the failure of the owner (“WEG – Kolektor” from Berane) to comply with and implement the Protection and Rescue Plan, particularly the short-term measures defined therein, such as the construction of a basin sprinkling system. It was noted that the pipes of the old system were cut, well pumps dismantled and out of operation, and that basin moisture levels have for years depended exclusively on atmospheric precipitation. Within the framework of the Industrial Waste Management and Cleanup Project (IWMCP), financed through a World Bank loan, a Main Design for the reconstruction of the red mud basins was prepared, with the estimated value of works amounting to EUR 31,676,045.36, excluding VAT. In addition, a Main Design for the remediation of the hazardous solid waste landfill was also prepared under the IWMCP, with an estimated value of EUR 12,793,587, excluding VAT. In this context, the Government approved urgent remediation of the red mud basins and the hazardous solid waste landfill at the Aluminium Plant site, with the aim of preventing further negative impacts on the environment and public health, and adopted the Decision determining the public interest for the implementation of the project “Reform of Waste Management in Montenegro – Remediation of the Red Mud Basins and the Hazardous Solid Waste Landfill at the Aluminium Plant Podgorica.”

The Cabinet adopted the Decree on the “Luča” Diploma. During the discussion, it was emphasized that the new Decree will enable clearer and more precise formulation of certain provisions and introduce new solutions, thereby improving the existing framework and ensuring uniform application in practice. For the first time, the Decree introduces the requirement of an excellent grade in the external knowledge assessment or final (matura or vocational) examination as a condition for awarding the “Luča” Diploma. It is also stipulated that a student may be awarded the “Luča” Diploma if they received a grade of at least very good in one of the subjects in the external assessment or final examination. Furthermore, it is proposed that a student whose foreign educational qualification has been recognized, and who completed one year of secondary education abroad, may be awarded the “Luča” Diploma even if the foreign certificate does not include grades for conduct/behavior. Given that the 2025/2026 school year is ongoing, it was proposed that the Decree should apply starting from the 2026/2027 school year.