Resignations Shake Podgorica and Tivat Airport Concession Process

Podgorica, Montenegro – The selection of a concessionaire for Podgorica and Tivat airports is facing turmoil after three members of the tender commission resigned. The resignations include an advisor to the Prime Minister and two officials from the Ministry of Finance. They cited concerns over irregularities, undue influence within the commission, and unequal treatment of bidders.

The commission was scheduled to choose an operator by next Monday. Current contenders for the bid include South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation and Luxembourg’s Corporación America Airports, which manages airports in South America.

Adding to the complications, Serbia’s Finance Minister, Siniša Mali, stated this week that Serbia is interested in participating by proposing a larger investment than the current bidders. Reports suggest that an outside consultant from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank, believes the tender process has serious violations and is considering withdrawing.

The tender commission has assessed that Incheon did not meet the minimum technical score needed to proceed, securing only 79.7 points compared to Corporación America’s 85. Sources within the commission argue that the evaluations made by the IFC’s consultant contradict their scoring of the bids.

The commission’s recent sessions have been marked by heated debates between members from the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s office, versus other commission members. The commission is set to resume discussions regarding financial bids on Sunday. The outcome of the evaluation and its implications on the tender’s legitimacy remain uncertain.

Amid unrest, Tivat Mayor Željko Komnenović expressed support for considering the South Korean bid, amid fears of losing concession revenues for the municipalities involved. The situation could lead to further resignations if disputes over the tender persist, prompting fears that such actions may disrupt the entire process.

As of now, the commission is expected to conclude its work soon, with a deadline to report to the Ministry of Transport by June 9. The possibility of the commission canceling the tender remains, should the government find that none of the bids meets Montenegro’s needs. Concerns over political motivations and previous government assurances continue to stir debates among stakeholders.