Lakić: We agree to talks, but not to blackmail

(Patria) - "I spoke by phone with Petar Đokić, Minister of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska, and we agreed to immediately enable uninterrupted gas supply to the citizens of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. At the same time, we agreed that representatives of Energoinvest and Sarajevo gas East Sarajevo should arrange a meeting as soon as possible to resolve the disagreements.

If necessary, an official opinion can be sought from the Regulatory Commission for Energy of Republika Srpska, which would explain its decision," said Vedran Lakić, Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry.

He added that the previous Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina twice succumbed to blackmail from Republika Srpska and paid higher gas prices without prior approval from the competent Regulatory Agency of Republika Srpska.

"We will not agree to an arbitrary price increase without regulator approval, because we want to protect the interests of citizens. We will not allow anyone to blackmail us into paying for gas at a price that has not been approved," Minister Lakić emphasized.

At the beginning of the year, Energoinvest accepted a contractual increase in gas prices on the condition that the Regulatory Commission for Energy of Republika Srpska approve it by June 30, 2024, otherwise the price would revert to that of 2022. On June 27, 2024, the regulator issued a decision that the new price could be applied, but only from January 1, 2025.

Given that the Regulatory Agency did not accept the gas price increase, the gas price under the contract returns to the old price. In this regard, Energoinvest requested from Sarajevo gas East Sarajevo a correction of invoices to the last regulated price, as well as the return of the difference for previous invoices, amounting to over one million KM.

"We call on Sarajevo gas East Sarajevo to return to the legal framework of business, to respect regulations and contracts, and not to use citizens as hostages. Especially because by closing the valves, they are not only punishing users in Sarajevo, but also in East Sarajevo," said Minister Lakić.

This once again shows how important it is to reach an agreement on the Southern Interconnection as soon as possible, which will open up the possibility of gas supply from multiple sides, so that no one will have a monopoly position and the opportunity to blackmail us.