JP EP BiH: Blockade of RMU Zenica and Breza accounts hinder electricity production

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Tax Administration of the Federation of BiH - Cantonal Tax Office Zenica, has temporarily unblocked the accounts of the lignite mines Zenica and Breza so that miners can be paid their December salaries. After the payment of December salaries in gross amounts, the accounts of the Zenica and Breza mines were blocked again, JP Elektroprivreda BiH announced today.

"JP Elektroprivreda BiH, the Governing company of the EPBiH Concern, announces that the current account blockades can have negative consequences on all joint activities undertaken so far for the restructuring of the mines, initiated with the aim of ensuring their economically sustainable operations. Comprehensive restructuring in terms of optimizing mine production capacities, technological and organizational restructuring, and workforce optimization can only be carried out through joint action and dialogue, taking into account the time factor necessary for the implementation of planned activities.

JP Elektroprivreda BiH's commitment to the full implementation of the restructuring process defined by the Program of Activities for improving the business of dependent companies – coal mines, is unquestionable, also due to the fact that economically sustainable mine operations have not been achieved despite more than 312 million KM that Elektroprivreda BiH has invested so far in modernizing existing equipment, especially in underground mining, procuring modern production systems, and thus creating the necessary prerequisites for safer and more humane work, and about 200 million KM in advance payments. The lack of positive financial effects in the mines' operations is caused precisely by the lack of restructuring.

The complex restructuring process is being carried out while fulfilling the mines' obligations related to coal deliveries in quantities necessary for the operation of thermal power plants, and therefore, the executed and announced account blockades can have unfavorable repercussions on the functioning of the EPBiH Concern, the unimpeded process of electricity production, and the stable supply of customers," stated JP Elektroprivreda BiH.