Gas crisis: Citizens learn from media that they won't freeze tomorrow

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The uncertainty caused by the gas shortage in the system of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to this morning's pipeline failure in Bulgaria was not resolved by any official institution but by the media, some of which learned, and others had confirmed by the Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of FBiH Nermin Džindić (SBB), that FBiH borrowed gas from Serbia. 

Serbia, after Bulgaria informed this morning that it could not say with certainty when it would repair the pipeline and enable the normalization of gas transport through the TurkStream, decided to urgently purchase additional quantities from Hungary, which was done during the day. 

It is precisely from that gas that Serbia lent 300,000 cubic meters to BiH until the Bulgarians resolve the problem. 

Due to the earlier decision of the Government of FBiH that FBiH would fully switch to the TurkStream from April 1, 2021, despite having a valid contract with the Hungarians, which is now subject to arbitration due to non-payment of three invoices, and threatens the payment of 21 million dollars, citizens in FBiH have been left at the mercy of neighbors in critical situations like today. 

What is an additional failure is that all competent institutions and companies in the gas and thermal energy supply chain completely failed when it comes to crisis communication, and after press releases in which they ordered businesses and citizens to turn off their valves, the Government of FBiH, the relevant ministry, Energoinvest, BH-Gas, and Sarajevogas did not inform users about the resolution of the crisis.

But with such institutions and those who lead them, the proverb "seeing is believing" holds true. 

(A.V)