Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder today signed contracts worth 2,191,964.81 KM for the procurement of modern equipment that will improve the measurement program of stations of the Federal Air Quality Monitoring Network managed by the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute (FHMZ).
In the statement of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, it was clarified that the purchases are realized through a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), within the “Project to improve air quality in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, which is implemented with the support of the World Bank.
The contracts include the procurement of air quality equipment in the value of 1,831,501.15 KM supplied by E3 doo Sarajevo, laboratory equipment worth 142,422.93 KM procured by Altium International doo Sarajevo, and spare parts in the value of 218,040.73 KM, which are also procured from the company E3 doo Sarajevo.
The equipment to be purchased will enable the complete completion of the measurement program at all stations of the Federal Network, including all key parameters for air quality assessment.
The system was further expanded with the installation of two new fixed stations (one will be installed in Mostar and the other in Tuzla), and one mobile station intended for emergency field measurements in case of accidents. The FHMZ laboratory was also modernized, which now has the capacity to carry out analyzes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), important indicators of pollution and risks to the health of the population.
The equipment acquired through these contracts represents a significant step forward towards a more comprehensive, reliable and modern air quality monitoring system in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Minister Pozder emphasized that this is one of the most concrete steps towards strengthening the infrastructure for air quality monitoring.
– Citizens have the right to accurate information about the air they breathe, and we as an institution have an obligation to provide reliable data and modern systems. Thanks to the support of the World Bank and the dedicated work of our Ministry and FHMZ, today we are entering a new phase of modernization that will enable better planning and faster response in situations of increased pollution – said Pozder.
At the same time, the procurement of a new air quality information system, worth around 150,000 KM, is nearing completion, which will significantly improve the digital capacities of the monitoring system. The new software will enable faster and more reliable data validation and verification, real-time data display, centralized management and more secure data storage, as well as more detailed trend analysis and automated reporting to the European Environment Agency (EEA). This introduces the air quality monitoring system in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina into a new phase of digital transformation.
Director of the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute, Almir Bijedić, pointed out that the new equipment and information system will significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of the Institute’s work, since it is the largest investment for this purpose so far.
– Thanks to modern measuring devices and expanded laboratory capacities, FHMZ will be able to provide better quality and faster information to citizens and institutions. It is especially important to us that the new system also enables the analysis of PAHs, because for the first time we fully monitor the parameters that are critical for health risk assessment. This is a big step forward for the Institute and the entire Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Bijedić.
The realization of these purchases establishes a strong foundation for the long-term modernization of the air quality monitoring system in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. More accurate, more reliable and more accessible data will contribute to the adoption of more effective environmental protection policies and better information of citizens, which is one of the key goals of the project supported by the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism announced, reports the FBiH Government Office for Public Relations, writes BHRT.
