The initiative “For gas to reach every factory in the Zenica-Doboj Canton”, which is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Economy of the Zenica-Doboj Canton and the ZDK Chamber of Commerce, received strong institutional support from the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, which made a significant step towards the future gasification of a large part of the canton.
At the working meeting held on June 22 at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, which was attended by Federal Minister Vedran Lakić, representatives of BH-Gas, the Ministry of Economy ZDK, the ZDK Chamber of Commerce and business entities, the goals and importance of this initiative for the development of the economy of the Federation of BiH were presented.
The federal ministry fully accepted the initiative, evaluating it as a project of strategic importance for the development of the economy, improvement of energy security and strengthening of the competitiveness of the domestic economy.
During the meeting, the decision was confirmed that the future development of gas infrastructure is planned in a way that will enable the connection of industrial zones, business entities and citizens in the municipalities and cities of Žepče, Zavidovići, Maglaj, Doboj Jug, Usora and Tešanj. With this, along with the existing gas network that includes Zenica, Kakanj and Visoko, almost the entire Zenica-Doboj canton would have access to natural gas.
The initiative was launched at the end of 2025, based on the fact that the Zenica-Doboj Canton is one of the most important industrial regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that a large number of local communities still do not have access to gas pipeline infrastructure. According to the ZDK Ministry of Economy and the ZDK Chamber of Commerce, this increases business costs, reduces the competitiveness of companies and makes it difficult to attract new investments.
The plan is that in the future natural gas will be available to all industrial zones, factories, public institutions and interested households in the area of the canton.
Special importance is given to this initiative by the Southern Interconnection project, which should provide Bosnia and Herzegovina with a new direction of natural gas supply, increase energy security and open up the possibility of gasification of new areas, including the Zenica-Doboj Canton.
According to the announcement, the availability of natural gas would bring numerous benefits, including lower operating costs for economic entities, greater competitiveness of domestic companies, attracting new investments and creating jobs, as well as reducing harmful gas emissions and improving environmental protection. It was also pointed out that the transition of the industry from coal to natural gas would make it easier to meet the environmental standards of the European Union and preserve the competitiveness of domestic products on the European market.
The initiative was supported by the Committee for Energy, Mining and Industry of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH and the Committee for the Economy of the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, who in their conclusions emphasized that the development of gas infrastructure is an important prerequisite for the further economic development of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the Federation of BiH and the entire country.
The ZDK Ministry of Economy and the ZDK Chamber of Commerce say that, in cooperation with all levels of government, they will continue activities on the implementation of the initiative with the aim that every factory, every industrial zone and every interested citizen in the Zenica-Doboj canton will have access to natural gas in the future.
