Vogošća residents write to authorities: Nothing has changed, will we be left without heating again?

(Patria) - Central heating users in the Municipality of Vogošća have sent an open letter to multiple addresses, as the heating season is approaching and the issue of the company supplying thermal energy has not been resolved.

"Two weeks before the start of the heating season, users of district heating services from the Municipality of Vogošća wish to express their concern that, following the usual pattern, they will be deprived of a service they pay for regularly.

The most significant factor prompting this conclusion was the Municipal Council Session held on September 25, 2025. Based on the available conclusions, the journalistic report on RTV Vogošća, and the subsequently published full recording of the Session, our heating is more than questionable. For easier understanding of this complex problem, we will summarize the most significant events after the 24./25. heating season concluded.

April 14, 2025. Mladen Pandurević was appointed Minister of Communal Economy of KS. In his exposé before the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, he identified solving the heating problem in Vogošća as his priority.

June 03, 2025. Minister Pandurević did not question the heating in Vogošća and stated with full understanding that the Government of Sarajevo Canton would have to find funds for our heating because BAGS Energotehnika cannot do it alone. (Klix Studio)

July 16, 2025. Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad UK and Minister Pandurević, at a previously announced press conference, announced a solution to the problem. In the long term, it is a new heating plant. Until then, they promised a stable supply of thermal energy for the 25./26. heating season. They stated that the Government is working on a budget rebalance and that funds will be secured for BAGS Energotehnika at that time.

September 19, 2025. In a journalistic report on RTV Vogošća (Vogošćanska hronika), Enis Džihanić, director of BAGS Energotehnika, stated that he hopes there will be no major problems in the supply of thermal energy to end-users. In cooperation with the Government and the Ministry, they are working on finding funds for the energy source. In the same report, Nihad Uk confirmed this, saying they are actively working to avoid problems.

September 25, 2025. At the Tenth regular session of the OV Vogošća, after the presentation by director Džihanić, all present councilors agreed that there would likely be no heating, although the director himself denied explicitly stating that.
Many things happened along the way. BAGS Energotehnika is suing all debtors and sending notices threatening seizure.

We note that the collection rate before last season was 95%. Non-payment is a result of protest due to the lack of service last season and uncertainty for the new one. The recommendation of the Ombudsman for Human Rights Office was for the Ministry to convene a public debate or a citizens' assembly and try to restore the clearly damaged trust through direct contact. This did not happen.

We are still awaiting the recommendation of the Ombudsman for Consumer Rights Protection.

None of the involved parties, neither those responsible, nor those in charge, nor those who should simply care, have contacted us or communicated with us about this problem. Only BAGS remembers to put a bill in the mailbox every month.

The citizens of Vogošća want to draw attention to their unity and readiness to address this problem more decisively and strongly if there is no heating on October 15.

We expect political maturity and responsibility towards the citizens from all involved parties. We are aware that we have entered the election campaign and we appeal to municipal and cantonal officials to refrain from unconstructive bickering. For us, the problem is the same as last year, caused in the same way, with no effort to change the situation, but our reaction will be faster and more decisive because we will not believe promises that "heating will come tomorrow." We want a direct answer to the question: WHAT ABOUT OUR HEATING?", the letter states.

This letter was sent to the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk, Minister of Communal Economy Mladen Pandurević, BAGS Energotehnika, Mayor of the Municipality of Vogošća Migdad Hasanović, all councilors of the Municipal Council of Vogošća, all deputies in the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton, and all media.