”Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is the only country in Europe that does not have an electricity exchange, after North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro established their state exchange operators last year, ” says energy expert Mirza Kusljugic.
Croatia founded its electricity exchange (CROPEX) ten years ago, while the exchange in Serbia (SEEPEX) has been in existence since 2016.
Energy experts say that the power exchange would enable transparent, fast and efficient trade in electricity, but that there isn’t the consent of the political authorities in BiH for its establishment.
BiH undertook to integrate into the European energy market 18 years ago, when it signed the Agreement on accession to the European Energy Community. However, it has not yet established an electricity exchange, which is a prerequisite for such integration.
The State Regulatory Commission for Electricity (SERC), which is responsible, among other things, for international trade in electricity, told that the electricity exchange was not established due to “legal obstacles”.
They explain that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is responsible for creating policy.
What are the benefits of establishing an electricity exchange?
The establishment of the electricity exchange is a prerequisite for merging with the single European market, which brings a number of advantages, explains energy expert Mirza Kusljugic.
“It is normal that those who do not want competition will be against trading (electricity) on the power exchange,” says Kusljugic, explaining that there is no will of the political authorities in BiH for the integration of the energy sector.
Energy expert Ognjen Markovic mentioned that the establishment of the power exchange and integration into the European Union’s (EU) electricity market would provide BiHwith a number of other advantages.
”The production of electricity in the country would be optimized, which would significantly facilitate the process of decarbonization, i.e. the cessation of the use of coal and other fossil fuels in the production of electricity,” he stressed.
Silence and short answers from the competent institutions
The competent Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH did not respond to journalist questions about the reasons why the electricity exchange has not yet been established.
Also, there wasn’t any response from the Ministry of Energy and Mining in the BiH entity Republika Srpska (RS), Slobodna Evropa writes.
E.Dz.
