BH-Gas to empty Zenica-Travnik gas pipeline

BH-Gas expert services will completely empty the Zenica-Travnik gas pipeline in the next seven to 10 days and fill it with harmless inert gas, it was announced at a company press conference, in relation to the latest events on this gas pipeline, namely, the unauthorized gas release discovered on the Novi Travnik gas pipeline branch. Meanwhile, on the order of the Prosecutor's Office of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the FBiH has initiated investigative activities and interviewed experts from this company, reports the BH news agency Patria.

- During a routine inspection, we determined that the Zenica-Travnik gas pipeline has been refilled with gas, even though this gas pipeline is not in operation. This is an unauthorized refilling with gas, our teams are on the ground, securing the gas pipeline and taking care of its safety to prevent any possible unintended consequences - said Jasmin Salkić, acting director of BH-Gas.

He reminded the media that, according to the conclusion of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the BH-Gas commission prepared a detailed report related to all activities on the construction of the Zenica-Travnik gas pipeline, and that the report was submitted to the FBiH Government, which will likely consider it at a thematic session.

- We want to remind that as of today, gas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is 10 percent cheaper, so one cubic meter of gas costs 450 KM. We also remind that Sarajevogas's debt to BH-Gas as of today amounts to 56 million KM plus 20 million KM in default interest. The former management sued Sarajevogas, but we must say that this is not the policy of this management, nor the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mining of the FBiH, nor the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also emphasize that we will not claim this 20 million KM interest amount, because that claim would fall solely on the citizens - Salkić emphasized.

He specifically pointed out that two months have passed since the appointment of the new Management, and the handover of duties from the old Management has not yet been completed, although it is a legal obligation.

- Most of the former management members are on sick leave, they do not answer their phones and do not communicate with the new management, even when we had a problem with the gas pipeline being cut in Perin Han - says Salkić.

Director Salkić emphasized that upon reviewing the company's financial reports, it was determined that the company's business reports for 2014 and 2015 were falsified, and that in 2014, the company made a profit based on interest income and loan write-offs for which there was no adequate documentation.

- In 2015, the reported profit is lower due to higher selling prices compared to purchase prices, so there are indications that both reports do not represent a fair and objective presentation of financial results. We expect detailed and official results after the audit by the Financial Police of the FBiH, which was requested to initiate an investigation last week. The owner and the relevant ministry have been informed about this - Salkić stated.

The director announced that in relation to the current issues of liberalization of the BiH energy market and the positions of the European Energy Community, BH-Gas will exclusively represent the interests of BiH and the FBiH. He also emphasized that the current management of BH-Gas will insist on the Southern Connection project, which will enable the diversification of gas supply sources for BiH, and of which the Zenica-Travnik gas pipeline, built but never put into operation, is a part.