The United States (U.S.) charge d’affaires in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), John Ginkel, met yesterday with five leaders of the ruling coalition in the Federation of BiH (FBiH) in order, according to the U.S. Embassy, to advance progress on the strategically important South Interconnection project, a gas pipeline that would bring the FBiH a new supply route and greater energy security.
The meeting was attended by FBiH Prime Minister Nermin Niksic(SDP), Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of BiH Dragan Covic (HDZ BiH), BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konakovic (NiP), member of the House of Representatives of BiH Sabina Cudic (NS), and delegate in the House of Peoples of BiH Ilija Cvitanovic (HDZ 1990).
As stated, all participants expressed a unified position that the construction of the South Interconnection needs to begin as soon as possible, emphasizing that the project represents a key step toward diversifying gas sources and reducing dependence on existing routes.
Ginkel led discussions on the possibility of a U.S. company taking over the development, construction, and management of the gas pipeline, which, according to the Embassy’s assessment, would enable fast and efficient implementation of the project.
The leaders gave their principled consent for such a model and committed themselves to continuing more detailed discussions in the coming period.
The U.S. Embassy states that investment by the U.S. private sector could significantly speed up the realization of the South Interconnection and ensure access to affordable and reliable U.S.liquefied natural gas, which would further strengthen the energy security of BiH.
