The District Commercial Court in Istočno Sarajevo has ruled in favor of Energoinvest in a legal dispute against Sarajevo-Gas Istočno Sarajevo, ordering the defendant to pay almost three million BAM, with an additional obligation to pay litigation costs in excess of 180,000 BAM.
The dispute was initiated in early 2024, following a unilateral and controversial increase in natural gas transportation prices, as well as an announcement of a suspension of deliveries by Sarajevo-Gas Istočno Sarajevo and their director Nedeljko Elek.
Energoinvest Director Mirza Ustamujić then challenged the aforementioned prices and business practices from the previous period, deeming them inconsistent with the applicable regulatory framework and requesting a refund of funds already made.
In its decision, the court confirmed Energoinvest’s key allegations, emphasizing that natural gas transportation is a regulated activity of public interest and that the system operator does not have the authority to independently set prices without prior consent from the competent regulator. It was determined that the disputed tariffs were applied without the necessary approval, thus confirming the merits of the request for the refund of funds.
This ruling additionally confirmed that the actions of the management of Sarajevo-Gas Istočno Sarajevo resulted in financial damage that is now subject to court collection, while the claims and timely response of Energoinvest were confirmed as well-founded and in accordance with the law.
“It is important to point out that this ruling comes just a few days after Energoinvest contested the claims of the Macedonian MEPSO, in the amount of 19.2 million euros, and achieved a favorable outcome at the DAB arbitration worth almost 6 million euros. This closes the cycle of unfavorable contractual relations from the previous period, with a clear confirmation that Energoinvest decisively manages the processes and consistently protects the interests of the company, announced the Public Relations Department of Energoinvest d.d.
