HDZ proposes that exploitation of all raw materials, except coal, be under cantonal jurisdiction: Will the Troika give in to Čović again?

(Patria) - HDZ BiH wants to divest the Federation of BiH of authority in mining, writes Istraga.ba.

Namely, deputies of that party submitted amendments to the House of Representatives of the FBiH on the proposal of the Law on Mining of the FBiH, which is to be considered at the session on Wednesday.

According to these amendments, the Federation would remain competent only for coal exploitation, while the exploitation of all other mineral raw materials and other ores would be under cantonal control.

We follow Article 6 of the proposed Law on Mining of the FBiH. Here is how it reads:

"(1) Mineral raw materials, within the meaning of this law, are all organic and inorganic mineral raw materials found in solid, liquid and gaseous state, in primary form (deposit) or in alluvium, tailings, smelter slag and natural solutions, namely:

a) energy mineral raw materials - all types of fossil coals, hydrocarbons in solid, liquid and gaseous state, all types of bituminous and oil shales, other gases found in the earth and radioactive mineral raw materials;

b) mineral raw materials from which metals and their compounds can be produced;

c) all types of salts and salt waters and gases occurring with them;

d) geothermal energy, geothermal and thermal waters from which accumulated heat can be obtained and used for energy purposes, except mineral and geothermal waters used for medicinal, balneological and recreational purposes or as drinking water and other purposes, to which regulations on waters apply;

e) non-metallic mineral raw materials: abrasives, asbestos, barite, bentonite, white bauxite, cement marl, diatomite, dolomite, feldspar, fluorite, gypsum, graphite, chalk, limestone, quartz, quartz sand, quartzite, ceramic and refractory clays, expanded clay, slate, mica, magnesite, brick clays, pyrophyllite, sulfur, tuff, talc, talc schist, technical-construction stone, architectural-construction stone, ornamental and semi-precious stones, gravel and sand for construction outside the public water domain;

f) all secondary mineral raw materials occurring as unused residue from the extraction, beneficiation and processing of primary mineral raw materials; and

g) all unlisted mineral raw materials of natural origin.

(2) Management of mineral raw materials from Article 6, paragraph (1), points a), b), c) and d) of this Law shall be carried out by the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry (hereinafter: the Federal Ministry).

(3) Management of mineral raw materials from Article 6, paragraph (1), points e), f) and g) of this Law shall be carried out by cantonal ministries competent for mining".



Thus, the proposed Law submitted to the Parliament of the FBiH implies that the Federation manages the exploitation of energy mineral raw materials (coal, gas, oil shales), mineral raw materials from which metals can be produced, all types of salts and salt waters, and geothermal energy and geothermal waters.

However, HDZ BiH submitted amendments to the Parliament of the Federation that foresee the Federation being competent only for the exploitation of coal and gas.

"We believe that part of the mineral raw materials should be under the jurisdiction of the Federation, and another part of the mineral raw materials should be under the jurisdiction of the cantons. The reason is already mentioned, i.e., the issue of shared jurisdiction because this law has taken away part of the rights from the cantons," reads the explanation of the HDZ amendments.

Here is what HDZ proposes.

"In Article 6, paragraphs (2) and (3) are amended to read: (2) Management of mineral raw materials from Article 6, paragraph (1), point a) of this Law shall be carried out by the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry (hereinafter: the Federal Ministry). (3) Management of mineral raw materials from Article 6, paragraph (1), points b), c), d), e), f) and g) of this Law shall be carried out by cantonal ministries competent for mining".



Thus, HDZ BiH proposes that the Federation of BiH manages only the exploitation of coal and gas, while all other raw materials would be under cantonal jurisdiction.

The proposed Law on Mining will be on the agenda of the House of Representatives of the FBiH scheduled for Wednesday. If the opposition supports the original proposal, HDZ's votes are not needed for the adoption of this law.

But, will the SDP, NiP and Our Party dare to adopt the law in a text that Dragan Čović does not want?