Preserve energy independence and regional cooperation

24.03.2023. / 17:08

TREBINJE – General Director of “Elektroprivreda Republika Srpska” /ERS/ Luka Petrović said today that Republika Srpska, i.e. BiH, is the only one in the region that exports electricity, and pointed out that it is important to preserve energy independence and cooperation between the countries of the region in order to provide the best and cheapest possible supply of citizens with electricity.

Photo: Capital

Petrović said at the final press conference of the fourth Energy Summit “SET Trebinje 23” that we and this region are affected by European politics and the energy crisis and that is why as a small community we should take care of energy independence and stability.

He pointed out that it turned out that such a summit, exclusively of professions and sciences, was necessary, which transcends national and religious borders and was attended by more than 90 percent of business partners from the energy sector of the region who also had business meetings and agreements on projects.

Petrović thanked all the participants and visitors, especially the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, who initiated the construction of a new congress center dedicated to energy in Trebinje, which will enable such expert meetings to continue permanently.

Petrović especially thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Sijart, who pointed out at the opening of the summit that decisions in the energy transition and due to the conflict in Ukraine should be very careful and that the strengths of national energy companies and politicians should be taken into account, and that one cannot to suddenly find yourself in a situation where there is no energy, because many countries have restrictions, electricity price increases and recessions because of this.

He pointed out that the conclusions of the energy summit from Trebinje will be sent to decision makers in the region in order to jointly overcome problems, use the best possible capacities, become more profitable, cheaper and more independent in the energy sector.

Petrović added that one of those ways of cooperation is the idea of ​​Hungarian President Viktor Orban, which he said is a good one, to connect the existing energy systems on the existing basis and, if necessary, build new capacities together and that when someone needs to be able to exchanges energy, which would bring savings and cheaper energy.

He stated that the Summit in Trebinje was visited by experts from Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Austria and China, within which nine expert panels were held.

The director of ERS said that one of the conclusions of the summit was that due to the taxation of carbon dioxide emissions, which is already being applied in Europe and will start in BiH from 2026, electricity from thermal power plants will become more expensive after that, and that in the Balkans there is an urgent need for this to work on the commissioning of facilities based on renewable energy sources, in which ERS is at an advantage because in the coming period it will increase its “green energy” portfolio by 33 percent.

Petrović explained that the jumps in electricity prices on the market due to the energy crisis affected the draining of the investment potential because companies had to buy expensive electricity on the market, stating that there has already been a stabilization of electricity prices on the market, which on the stock exchanges amounts to 90 to 120 euros per megawatt-hour.

He also pointed out that there will be an integration of trade and the electricity market in the region and that BiH will be the only one without an electricity exchange and that laws should be adopted first, stating that exchanges will also be formed in Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania, which will also include self-proclaimed Kosovo. .

Petrović also pointed out that the transmission network in the region is overloaded due to the increased inclusion of renewable energy sources, which needs to be improved, and a greater application of smart technology and meters, preservation of existing thermal plants and provision of resources for electric chargers for cars is also necessary, because from 2030 .pay taxes for diesel and gasoline cars.

Three-day Energy Summit “SET Trebinje 23.” gathered more than 720 participants from the region, and was organized by ERS, the city of Trebinje and the SET company. A doe