New blockade orchestrated by HDZ: Ministry refuses to issue urban planning permit for Southern Interconnection construction

(Patria) - The Federal Ministry of Spatial Planning rejected the request of "BH Gas" for the issuance of urban planning consent for the construction of the Southern Interconnection BiH and Croatia gas pipeline, writes Capital.ba.

"BH Gas" submitted this request in June 2021, and just under three years later, the decision of the FBiH Government arrived. It was rejected by the ministry headed by Željko Nedić, a member of the Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ).

The Southern Interconnection would connect BiH with Croatia and through it with the European Union. The gas pipeline would start from Zagvozd in Croatia, pass through Posušje, Tomislavgrad, Šuica, Kupres, Bugojno, Novi Travnik, and Travnik with a branch to Mostar, Capital reports.

Besides the urban planning consent, the battle continues over who will be the holder of the entire project. HDZ BiH advocates for a newly established company in Mostar to be the holder. However, the project itself and all other documents related to the Southern Interconnection state "BH Gas" as the holder.

Meanwhile, the new Croatian government has announced the realization of the Southern Interconnection project.

Earlier, US Ambassador Michael Murphy emphasized that the Southern Interconnection project is of national interest and called on domestic politicians to take urgent action to ensure the energy independence and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BiH imports gas solely from Russia via TurkStream, which it joined in April 2021.

Two years ago, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) BiH blocked the adoption of a law that would have initiated the construction of a new gas pipeline in Bosnia and Herzegovina through amendments.

All amendments imply the exclusion of the Sarajevo-based company BH Gas from the project and the transfer of the project to a newly established company in Mostar.

The law that would officially initiate the construction of the gas pipeline was adopted in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH at the end of 2021. At that time, HDZ BiH representatives also voted for it. However, this law was blocked in the House of Peoples of the Federation.

At the beginning of the mandate of the new FBiH government, the Law on the Southern Interconnection was withdrawn, and at the beginning of March this year, the Federal Government announced the adoption of a new Law on the Southern Interconnection. So far, it has all remained a promise.

The value of the project is around 100 million euros, and the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline would be about 180 kilometers long.

We remind you that Dragan Čović has been warned from multiple sides, from a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy, to Assistant US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien.

The messages were clear every time – BH Gas must be the project holder.

The Government of the Federation of BiH adopted a decision in February 2010, which established that energy in the field of electricity and gas is a public interest activity of FBiH.

They stated that in addition to the two electricity companies in FBiH, "BH Gas" is a public enterprise that performs an activity of public social interest.

The company "Eroplin", owned by Ivica Nuić, which was founded at the end of 2021 with a capital of 70,000 KM, is also increasingly mentioned. Nuić is originally from Konjic, worked at "Montmontaža", is the deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board of Jadranski naftovod (JANAF) based in Zagreb, a member of the Association of BH Croats "Prsten", and a member of the Main Board of Matica Hrvatska.

Meanwhile, the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) had previously submitted a new/old Law on the Southern Interconnection to the parliamentary procedure.

They stated at the time that the Southern Interconnection project is one of the most important strategic infrastructure projects in the field of energy in FBiH.