In order not to be dependent on Russian gas, many European countries are busy working on gas pipeline construction projects. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) also joined the race through the Southern Interconnection. This is a project through which gas would be imported via Croatia by a newly established company from the West Herzegovina Canton (ZHC).
In September of last year, the Assembly of the ZHC passed a decision on the establishment of the Public Company “Plinovod Juzna Interkonekcija”. According to announcements, that company would take over gas from Croatia and distribute it primarily in the area of this canton, and later, possibly, also to the rest of BiH. On the other hand, the former director of BH-Gas, the company that was responsible for this international project, states that it seems the goal is to remove BH-Gas from the contract that has been in place in the Council of Ministers for five years.
“The desire was to buy gas that is not only Russian through the southern gas interconnection, and now it is even more desirable, considering all the developments regarding Russian gas and Europe’s withdrawal from Russian gas, however, here we are now going with the wrong concept, that is, there is a wish that with the Croatian company, which has just been formed, we actually enter the segment of gas transportation that is under the jurisdiction of BH-Gas according to federal regulations,” says energy expert and former director of BH-Gas Almir Becarevic.
“I believe that this decision to establish this company is not a knife in the back, as some experts in BiH believe, but quite the opposite. This will have a positive impact on the strategic project of the gas pipeline South Interconnection BiH and the Republic of Croatia, especially today when we are in an energy crisis where it is reflected in the safe distribution of gas,” believes Minister of Justice and Administration of ZHCKristijan Zovko.
And the Government of Croatia optimistically announces the connection of the gas pipeline with BiH. They say that their LNG terminal on the island of Krk has proven to be very successful in the current crisis. The gas could also be distributed in our country through the gas pipeline.
“Why did we decide to double the capacities? Well, precisely so that it would be available to our neighbors, countries in our surroundings… and to build a route in Croatia to the border with BiH. This is something that we have in our plans, to make gasification in this part on the side of BiH and, therefore, that LNG from Croatia, with gas that will come via LNG, can be supplied to BiH as well,” told Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia Davor Filipovic.
It is being talked about more and more loudly about the great importance of securing independence from Russian gas, which would also be achieved for our country with the implementation of this project. If this issue is not politicized, the benefits should be felt by all citizens of BiH.
E.Dz.
