BiH must prioritize the transport of oil and petroleum products by rail

(Patria) - An alarming increase in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities has been registered on the roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina this year. Two days ago near Konjic, two people were seriously injured in a collision with a tanker carrying fuel. According to official data, at least 100 tankers circulate on BiH roads daily, even during the peak of summer traffic jams, which directly affects not only the speed but also the safety of traffic flow. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of ready tank cars for the transport of oil and petroleum products remain unused, and railway companies across the country are operating at a loss! 

Many believe that the Ministry of Transport and Communications of BiH and the responsible minister, Vojin Mitrović, should react urgently and prioritize the transport of oil and petroleum products by rail. Although this has been discussed before, it is high time for state authorities to react and consider measures that could have a positive effect on traffic safety, as well as the economy of the entire country. 

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina alone, 5,432 traffic accidents occurred in the last three months, which is 280 more than in the same period last year. In these accidents, 42 people died, while 2,025 people were slightly or seriously injured, which is nearly 500 more injured than in the same period in 2020. In July alone, 14 people died in traffic accidents on the roads of RS, seven more than in the same period last year, and in the first three days of August, there were four fatalities.

Tankers that travel on BiH roads even during peak traffic jams increase pressure, congestion, and negatively affect safety. In May this year, a tanker overturned on the Sarajevo-Mostar road, and some of the fuel leaked onto the road, and later likely into the nearby Neretva River. 

Experts point out that BiH has all the capacities to limit the transport of oil to railways, as there are extensive networks of terminals in state and private ownership and management. A decision prioritizing rail transport would also strengthen the operations of terminals, and would have little or no impact on market prices. 

For several years now, Željeznice FBiH (Railways of the Federation of BiH) have been fully prepared to transport oil and petroleum products. 

- We have 100 tank cars ready for transport. This would generate significant financial revenue necessary for the further development of Željeznice FBiH. If oil and petroleum products were transported entirely this way, Željeznice FBiH would have an additional revenue of about 25 million KM annually, and the effects for the country would be manifold.

The state would have direct control over the processes of importing oil and petroleum products, thereby reducing the possibility of smuggling. The collection of customs duties and VAT would be more orderly, resulting in increased revenue from this source. The quality of liquid fuels would be ensured, as well as environmental protection, considering that railways use clean energy for transport.

In addition, increasing the volume of rail transport would also increase the consumption of domestic electricity. And, very importantly, it would directly contribute to relieving road traffic and increasing safety for all road users, which would contribute to reducing the number of accidents and preserving the already dilapidated road infrastructure - said the director of Željeznice FBiH, Enis Džafić, earlier.