Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vedran Lakić, said the goal of the FBiH government to remain unchanged in the next period.
“Our task is to try to ensure this, although the energy sector is, especially Elektroprivreda BiH and mines, is currently facing the most severe phase within the total system organized on the occasion of the second anniversary of the current federal government.
He also pointed out that BiH currently has the lowest price of electricity in the region and beyond, which is a significant advantage for both households and for the economy. He added that it will strive to maintain this level price, but without final guarantees.
Speaking of the need to diversify energy sources, Lakić emphasized the importance of building gas corridors in different directions – northern, southern and west – which would enable lower gas price for consumers and economy.
“I will not comment on why it was not done earlier, but now we must resolute to the Federation’s gasification process,” said the Minister.
Looking back on the situation in the mining sector, the Minister pointed out a long-term neglect of the mine’s obligations, especially in terms of unpaking contributions.
“The last ten years is tolerated that mines do not settle contributions, which, by me, is completely unacceptable. Why is it allowed, let them answer another,” Lakić stated. He pointed to the fact that the Mining Sector currently owes more than 1.2 billion KM in the name of contributions, and added that it is high time to establish equal treatment of public and private companies in this context.
He announced cooperation with the Tax Administration in order to find a model for repaying these debts, noting that some mines in the last year and a half succeed in regularly settling their obligations, which considers a positive signal.
In the end, he expressed the expectation that the situation in the sector would improve, and stated how the legal framework that should contribute to the resolving existing problems in preparation. Akta.
