Bečarević praises Bećirović: We have been waiting for the state Gas Law for over 20 years, the market will finally be regulated

(Patria) - The Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton welcomes and gives full support to Mr. Denis Bećirović regarding the submission of the Law on Gas Transport, Regulator and Internal Market in BiH to the adoption procedure by the competent institutions.

"The Law on Gas Transport, Regulator and Internal Market in BiH (hereinafter: Gas Law) has been awaited for over 20 years, and during this time, dozens and dozens of politicians, international institutions and organizations have tried to draft the law, and now, for the first time, we have a law that means the implementation of the III Energy Package and the best policies in the gas sector.

Bećirović, as a member of the Presidency of BiH, recognized the need to adopt the Gas Law at a time when two concepts in the development of the gas sector clashed and when Europe is freeing itself from dependence on Russian gas, which some in our country still see as the only source of gas supply.

The Gas Law that has finally seen the light of day is a law that, in its essence, establishes a state regulator in the gas sector and elevates gas transport to the level of a public service with the possibility of access to the system for all those who wish to import and sell natural gas in BiH. Equal and uniform access to the transport system with clearly defined tariffs for gas transport is an idea that has been a need for 20 years, but never realized through legal regulations.
Clear rules for gas trading are a prerequisite for opening the market. The development of new supply routes through the construction of interconnections with clearly defined development plans is a necessity for both entities, because only a state law enables inclusion in the European gas transmission system and connection with pipelines that enable diversification of supply sources and security of supply.

The Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton wishes to thank all those who have actively worked on this law in recent months, especially the excellent experts in BH-Gas (development sector) who, regardless of working hours and days, have incorporated their knowledge into this law. The synergy that was present from the beginning of the drafting of this draft has yielded a result that, in the opinion of this ministry, provides answers to all unanswered questions that have been asked for all these 20 years.

We express special gratitude to Bećirović and his team of associates for believing that together we can bring this job to the final draft of the law.
Sarajevo Canton, as the largest consumer of natural gas, should be the biggest beneficiary in this process, and the South Interconnection development project, after the adoption of the Gas Law, would become a project of interest for Europe and the region, which would now also meet the conditions for obtaining significant grant funds from European funds for its implementation.

The Gas Law is of importance to both entities, and we hope that this will also be recognized in the RS entity, because the future regulator will provide the basis for equal access to the transport system and all gas traders, regardless of their headquarters," the ministry announced.