The recent decision by the Cadastre Service of the City of Mostar to change the registered owner of the Hidroelektrana properties on the Neretva River (Hydropower Plant, HPP) in favor of JP Elektroprivreda HZ HB d.d. Mostar (Public Enterprise Electric Utility Service of the Croat Community of Herzeg-Bosnia, JSC Mostar) sparked a strong reaction from Elektroprivreda BiH (Electric Utility Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina). This decision also brought back memories of how this strategically important facility changed “ownership” in the first place.
While the two electric utility companies prepare for a legal battle, Ahmet Kurt, a researcher from Mostar, reminded the public of the chronology of events related to HPP Mostar, shedding new light on the background of the current property dispute.
In his analysis, Kurt notes that HPP Mostar was built in the late 1970s with the support of a $55 million loan from the World Bank. For its construction on the left bank of the Neretva River, approximately 70 hectares of land (formerly the Hepok vineyards) were expropriated, where supporting and recreational facilities were later built.
Although, according to Kurt, members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina defended the Jablanica, Grabovica, and Salakovac hydropower plants, as well as HPP Mostar itself during the war, the key turning point occurred in the post-war years.
Night Shift
According to testimonies, while Elektroprivreda BiH was chaired by Meho Obradović, members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina who were protecting HPP Mostar received an order to leave their positions. The next day, members of the Croatian Council of Defence took over the facility.
Kurt claims there are reasonable grounds to conclude that the Bosniak politicians at the time, as a gesture of goodwill, handed over a facility worth 55 million dollars to the Croatian side. To calm the public, a narrative was presented that the facility was “handed over for use for repair purposes.” For a while, workers from Jablanica were used to feign the manning of guard posts before they were permanently withdrawn.
This unusual detail is officially documented in the OHR Special Auditor’s Report on the state of Elektroprivreda BiH, dated March 11, 2003. In that report, the OHR strictly ordered the management of Elektroprivreda BiH: “Dismiss the security staff at the HPP Mostar site.”
The auditor noted that Elektroprivreda BiH was funding 24-hour security at the eastern entrance of HPP Mostar, even though the facility was under the control of Elektroprivreda HZHB.
What Lies Behind This Land Registration?
Kurt emphasized that the current issue is the registration of areas expropriated in the 1980s in favor of Elektroprivreda HZ HB. He warned of possible hidden motives behind this action:
“This can only mean there is an intent to take control of the strategically important M-17 road north of Mostar through peaceful and administrative means, or that these areas are intended to be excavated later to increase the HPP Mostar reservoir capacity, with unnecessary facilities for the power plant’s operation being built on the remaining land.”
Kurt expressed full support for the young councilors from pro-Bosnian parties in the Mostar City Council, who recognized the danger and spoke out against these intentions.
Meanwhile, legal representatives of the two companies are presenting completely opposing arguments regarding the legality of the registration in the Mostar Land Registry.
Elektroprivreda HZ HB says the procedure has been transparent and has been going on for a long time.
The company stated that the request to update user information was submitted as early as June 15, 2021.
They added that they had provided all the necessary documentation proving that the HPP Mostar site and related properties belong to them, and that they have been managing the facility since 1992.
They emphasize that the Mostar Cadastre acted according to clear instructions from the Federal Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs, which overturned previous rejections by the Mostar service and ordered a resolution in favor of EP HZ HB.
Meanwhile, Elektroprivreda has announced it will pursue all available legal remedies, emphasizing that it was completely bypassed throughout the process:
“Hydropower Plants on the Neretva” operate exclusively within JP Elektroprivreda BiH and are registered as such in the court registry.
Elektroprivreda BiH states that it was never granted party status in the disputed administrative proceedings before the City of Mostar’s Cadastre Service.
Immediately after learning of the registration change, it requested an inspection, access to the case file (which has not yet been granted), and filed for a return to the previous state.
While Elektroprivreda BiH urges the City of Mostar’s administrative bodies to act urgently to protect the rule of law and property rights, it remains to be seen whether this complex legal and political issue will be resolved in court or if multi-million dollar state assets will be permanently transferred to the books of Elektroprivreda HZ HB, Klix.ba writes.
