In 2019, ahead of commissioning the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector between Cepagatti (Villanova) in Italy and Lastva in Montenegro, Terna’s Dispatching unit carried out system preparation and testing activities. Working with the Montenegrin TSO, it drew up operational rules, conducted connection tests on the new 500 kV DC link, and prepared for auctions to allocate the 600 MW cross‑border transmission capacity.
On 28 December 2019, the FIRST POLE of the 500 kV HVDC MONITA interconnector between the Villanova (Italy) and Lastva (Montenegro) substations entered commercial operation, providing 600 MW of bidirectional interconnection capacity via approximately 445 km of submarine and underground cable. This was the first of two planned poles for the 1200 MW bipole scheme — Pole 2 (Second HVDC Module IT-ME) is under construction separately for December 2026 commissioning. Reclassified from commercial_operations_full_power to first_power during manual audit review 2026-04-15: commercial_operations_full_power implies the project is operational at full nameplate capacity, which requires both poles of a bipole. With only Pole 1 in service the correct classification is first_power. The project status is part_operational until Pole 2 reaches COD.
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The Italy–Montenegro interconnection (Villanova–Lastva) is an HVDC subsea transmission project that, in the TYNDP 2022 record, is described as the Second HVDC Module IT‑ME. The investment comprises a new 500 kV DC subsea transmission line and DC converter stations at Villanova (Italy) and Lastva ...
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Italy–Montenegro interconnector, Italy–Montenegro power link, HVDC Italy–Montenegro (MONITA), MONITA, Interconnessione Italia–Montenegro, Interconnessione Italia–Montenegro Villanova–Lastva, Villanova–Lastva HVDC, TR 28 - Italy–Montenegro, Project 28 - Italy–Montenegro
On 28 December 2019, the first 500 kV HVDC pole of the Italy–Montenegro interconnector between Villanova/Cepagatti (Italy) and Lastva/Kotor (Montenegro) entered service, indicating commissioning of the associated converter stations and HVDC assets. This initial configuration, comprising the Cepagatti and Kotor converter stations, 423 km of submarine cable and 22 km of underground cable, began commercial operation with 600 MW bidirectional transfer capacity between the Italian and Montenegrin systems, including 200 MW reserved for private backers under Italy’s Law 99/09.
On 17 December 2019, the Terna Group sold Monita Interconnector S.r.l., the special purpose vehicle for the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector, to Consorzio Interconnector Energy Italia S.C.p.A., the consortium of private backers that will have access to part of the cross-border capacity. The sale coincided with the signing of construction, operation and maintenance contracts for the interconnector under the Italian private interconnectors framework established by Law 99/2009.
On 15 November 2019, Terna held an inauguration ceremony for the new 445 km Italy–Montenegro HVDC power line connecting the Cepagatti (PE) substation in Italy with the Lastva substation in the municipality of Kotor, Montenegro. The event, attended by the Presidents of Italy and Montenegro, marked the completion of construction of the subsea and underground cable link prior to its subsequent entry into commercial service.
On 18 September 2019, Italy’s Ministry for Economic Development issued an exemption decree for Monita Interconnector S.r.l., granting a third‑party access exemption covering 200 MW of transmission capacity on the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector for a period of 10 years, following a clearance issued by ARERA on 25 June 2019 under the Law 99/2009 private interconnector framework.
On 25 June 2019, ARERA, the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment, issued a clearance in favour of a third‑party access exemption for Monita Interconnector S.r.l., covering 200 MW of capacity on the Italy–Montenegro HVDC link and paving the way for the subsequent ministerial exemption decree.
In May 2019, Terna and Montenegro’s transmission system operator CGES signed an Operation Agreement for the HVDC MONITA interconnector between Villanova (Italy) and Lastva (Montenegro), defining that Terna will operate the link in cooperation with CGES. The agreement sets out the operational responsibilities for running the Italy–Montenegro HVDC connection once in service.
In 2018, Elnos Group was engaged as one of the contractors for the Lastva Grbaljska HVDC converter station on the Italy–Montenegro (Villanova–Lastva) interconnector, performing extensive electrical installation works. Its scope included installations for the 400 kV yard, filter facility, converter transformers, control building, rectifier and DC facilities, auxiliary power, remote control and protection systems, low‑current and thermomechanical systems, and site landscaping for investor Terna under main contractor Toshiba.
In December 2018, Nexans completed the installation and testing of the approximately 445 km submarine cable section of the MONITA Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector between Villanova (Italy) and Lastva (Montenegro). This milestone marked the completion of offshore cable laying for the 600 MW, ±500 kV undersea link forming the first pole of the planned 1,200 MW bipolar interconnection.
On 11 January 2017, permits were obtained in Montenegro for construction of the converter station associated with the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector, complementing earlier permits for the marine and terrestrial cables.
On 6 December 2016, ENTSO‑E’s Ten‑Year Network Development Plan 2016 listed the Italy–Montenegro interconnection as Project 28, describing it as a new 1,200 MW HVDC subsea cable between Villanova (Italy) and Lastva (Montenegro) with associated DC converter stations, promoted by CGES and Terna and planned for commissioning in 2019.
On 5 October 2016, the Ministry of Economy of Montenegro and Terna held a ceremony at the Jazu site to mark the start of works for laying the Montenegro–Italy HVDC submarine cable connecting Terna’s Villanova station in Italy with CGES’s Lastva Grbaljska station in Montenegro. By this date, approximately 136 km of cable had already been laid from the Italian coast, and the subsea interconnection—over 800 million euros in value—was scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.
On 1 August 2016, permits were obtained in Montenegro for the construction of the marine and terrestrial cables forming part of the Montenegrin section of the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector.
As part of the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector, Terna completed and put into service the expansion of the 380 kV Villanova onshore substation in Italy, with works starting in 2013 and the upgraded substation entering service in December 2014 to facilitate the new cross-border connection between Villanova and Montenegro.
On 22 May 2014, Terna confirmed that all necessary permits for the construction of the Italian section of the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector were in place, clearing the way for submarine cable laying to begin from the Italian coast. This milestone came nearly three years after the declaration of public utility for the Italian section was issued on 28 July 2011, reflecting the time required to obtain detailed construction permits, marine licences, and environmental authorisations across the multiple Italian jurisdictions involved in the 16 km onshore and approximately 313 km Italian-waters submarine route. Critically, the equivalent detailed construction permits in Montenegro were still not in place at this point — they would not be obtained until August 2016 for the marine and terrestrial cables and January 2017 for the converter station at Lastva Grbaljska. This cross-jurisdiction permitting gap, with the Italian side ready two years before Montenegro, was the primary driver of the project's extended cable lead time. Nexans, awarded the €340 million cable EPCI contract in 2012, was able to begin manufacturing and laying cable from the Italian coast during 2015–2016, completing approximately 136 km of submarine cable from the Italian landfall before the Montenegrin construction permits enabled work to extend across the Adriatic. The three separate marine campaigns by Nexans' cable-laying vessel Skagerrak, each covering approximately 160 km, were sequenced to accommodate this regulatory asymmetry between the two countries.
Starting in 2013, the European Commission included the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnection, comprising two 600 MW DC submarine cables and converter stations at Villanova (Cepagatti) in Italy and Lastva (Kotor) in Montenegro, in the EU list of Projects of Common Interest, recognising its strategic role for Balkan–EU power system integration.
In 2012, construction work began at the onshore sites for the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector between Villanova/Cepagatti in Italy and Lastva/Kotor in Montenegro, including the converter stations and associated underground cable sections. Terna reports that the power line ultimately involved 124 companies working on these construction sites, whose activities trace back to this 2012 start of onshore works.
In 2012, Terna, the Italian transmission system operator, awarded Nexans a €340 million contract to supply one of the two 500 kV HVDC submarine and land cables for the MONITA (Montenegro–Italy) interconnector linking the Cepagatti converter station in Pescara, Italy, to the Kotor converter station near Budva in Montenegro.
On 5 April 2012, Prysmian Group announced it had been awarded an approximately €400 million contract by Terna Rete Italia S.p.A. for the MON.ITA Italy–Montenegro HVDC submarine power link, selecting Prysmian to supply and install one of the two poles of the interconnection. The scope includes about 415 km of 500 kV DC subsea cable with a rated power of 1000 MW, along with associated specialist civil works in Italy and Montenegro and marine electrodes for emergency operation.
On 28 July 2011, decree no. 239/EL-189/148/2011-PR established the declaration of public utility and set the deadline for completion of works for the Italian section and associated ancillary works of the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnector, providing the core development consent for the link on Italian territory.
A feasibility and grid analysis study titled "HVDC Italy-Montenegro: Update of Grid Analysis" for the undersea HVDC interconnection between Villanova (Italy) and Lastva (Montenegro), commissioned by Terna, was completed in February 2011, providing updated assessments of regional network development and equipment selection for the 1,000 MW link.
In January 2011, Terna and CGES entered into a Project Implementation Agreement (PCA) for the joint development of the Italy–Montenegro HVDC link, defining roles and coordination arrangements between the operators for delivering the interconnector.
At the end of 2010, Italy and Montenegro signed a contract to realise the undersea HVDC interconnection between Villanova and Lastva, confirming the countries’ commitment to build the 1,000 MW MONITA link and advancing the project from planning into concrete implementation.
By the end of 2010, Italy and Montenegro signed a contract to realise the new undersea HVDC interconnection between Villanova (Italy) and Lastva (Montenegro), marking the formal commitment to proceed with the project following preparatory activities that had begun in 2007.
In February 2010, Italy and Montenegro signed an intergovernmental agreement for implementation of the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnection, mandating Terna and CGES to carry out the project and establishing the framework for its joint development.
In 2009 the Italy–Montenegro HVDC interconnection was included for the first time in Italy’s National Transmission Grid Development Plan, formally positioning the link as a strategic project to strengthen interconnections with the Balkans and improve security, efficiency and sustainability of the grids on both sides of the Adriatic.
Activities to realise the undersea HVDC interconnection between Italy (Villanova) and Montenegro (Lastva), known as MONITA, began at the end of 2007, marking the start of formal development work on the project following initial intergovernmental engagement between the two countries.
Terna appointed Toshiba of Japan as the main contractor for the HVDC converter station at Lastva Grbaljska in Montenegro, part of the Italy–Montenegro (Villanova–Lastva) ±500 kV, 1,000 MW interconnector. Toshiba acts as the lead contractor for the converter substation works for investor Terna at the Lastva site.
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