ĐOKIĆ: WE HAVE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY, NO PRICE ADJUSTMENT CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 2 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić says that Republika Srpska is managing to secure sufficient quantities of electricity from its own production for the economy and citizens.

Đokić noted that there are critical periods, such as this summer, which has been marked by a prolonged drought, when production at hydroelectric power plants has been reduced to a very low level. “Gacko Thermal Power Plant is operating, while Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant will return to operation. When Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant is out of operation for an extended period and production at hydroelectric power plants is reduced, electricity is purchased on another market,” Đokić told RTRS. He added that Republika Srpska has maintained exceptionally low electricity prices for years, which places a major burden on producers, who have to make substantial investments in their facilities in order to maintain production. The line minister stressed that no one is currently considering an adjustment of electricity prices. Đokić said that the entire Republike Srpske Power Industry system has a surplus of employees, with estimates putting the number at around 2,000. He said that much more could be done in the energy sector if there were greater understanding at the BiH level rather than resistance to many development projects. Speaking about investments, he said that BAM 750 million had been invested from the entity budget this year alone. “We hope that in the coming weeks we will begin work on the construction of the main gas pipeline from Šepak to Novi Grad, worth BAM 1.29 billion excluding VAT, which will be financed from the Republika Srpska budget over the next five years. Of course, we also use loans to implement projects,” Đokić said. Đokić stressed that the authorities in Republika Srpska had done a great deal in recent years to develop the entity, provide security to its people and demonstrate their commitment through concrete activities. He emphasized that results had been achieved with the contribution of the Socialist Party, which he heads and which has been in a coalition with the SNSD, headed by Leader Milorad Dodik, for a long time.