Bosnia and Herzegovina at an energy crossroads: Time to build the Southern Interconnection

John Ginkel, Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in BiH, published a text regarding the construction of the Southern Gas Interconnection. We are publishing the text in full.

As the world navigates an extremely rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, Bosnia and Herzegovina finds itself at a crossroads. The stakes are high – it is important for BiH to act decisively to ensure its own energy security or risk falling behind. President Trump's administration has highlighted two key truths – the world will continue to run on oil, gas, and coal, and every molecule of Russian gas purchased in Europe finances the Russian war machine.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one hundred percent dependent on Russia for the gas it uses, and this supply is unreliable. The European Union is banning Russian gas on its single market, and Bulgaria has announced it will stop the transit of Russian gas through its territory by 2028. When that happens, BiH will need a new source of gas, while its neighbors struggle to do the same. With only one existing interconnection for gas imports, BiH will have to struggle to secure an alternative gas supply or reserve pipeline capacity.

But there is a clear solution – the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline. This project would enable Bosnia and Herzegovina to purchase reliable and affordable liquefied natural gas (LNG). It would improve BiH's energy security and strengthen its commercial and strategic ties with reliable energy suppliers, especially with the United States.

US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the US Energy Dominance Council, tasked by President Trump with weaning Europe off Russian energy, made this clear on November 7 when they met with senior BiH and Croatian officials at the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) conference in Athens to discuss this project. They emphasized the importance of finding compromises to advance the gas pipeline project and urged all parties to stop delaying.

Two weeks ago, I met with the leaders of the ruling coalition of the Federation of BiH. My message was simple: “Now is the time to end the political stalemate and build the Southern Interconnection.” And for the first time in many years, we have reached a consensus on the way forward. We have, in principle, agreed that an American company would be best positioned to build, operate, and manage the pipeline in the interest of all Federation residents. In the coming weeks, we will hold intensive discussions to work out the details, with the intention of starting construction next year.

The arguments for building the Southern Interconnection are clear. The population needs gas so as not to freeze in the winter. Businesses need new reliable sources of gas to revitalize Herzegovinian cities and create new jobs. And everyone in BiH, especially children and the elderly, needs to breathe clean air.
Washington wants to strengthen the partnership between the US and BiH and calls for bold action to advance this key project that will secure BiH's economic future. The Trump administration is ready to act quickly to support the Southern Interconnection. Now it is up to BiH leaders to move this vital project forward. Let's work together to bring this project to completion.