Conceptual design for gas pipeline from Croatia to BiH to be drafted

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR, Brussels) has approved the commencement of the conceptual design for the South Interconnection of BiH – HR (Zagvozd – Posusje – Novi Travnik with a branch to Mostar), it was announced on Thursday from BH-Gas. 

The approval pertains to the drafting of the conceptual design and tender documentation in accordance with EBRD rules, and it has been awarded to the Mott MacDonald consortium within the CONNECTA project.

“The project will be implemented based on granted funds amounting to approximately EUR 1 million, and based on the preparation of this documentation, which is expected to be completed in the 3rd quarter of 2020, BH-Gas will initiate the procedure for obtaining urban planning consent, thus aligning the level of documentation already prepared by the Croatian company Plinacro, which had already obtained location, i.e., urban planning consent for its connection segment to BiH in 2018,” BH-GAS announced, as reported by Patria.

BH-Gas states that these activities undoubtedly demonstrate the commitment of all participants in this process to ensure BiH has a second entry point for natural gas, thereby diversifying its sources and supply routes, so that all consumers in FBiH, and indeed the entire BiH, have the necessary quantities of natural gas and guaranteed security of supply for current and future buyers of this energy source. 

“During the drafting of the conceptual design, BH-Gas, with the consent of its owner, the Government of the Federation of BiH, will actively cooperate with the EBRD in securing loan funds, so that the gas pipeline can be built in 2023/2024,” the statement reads.