First gas deliveries to BiH via Southern Interconnection in 2023

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - BH-Gas announced that in the past period, the company has carried out all preparatory activities to create conditions for the tender for the environmental impact study and feasibility study for the Southern Interconnection project.

As stated, today a call for the selection of a Consultant for the preparation of the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Impact Study for the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia has been published.

"Today, a call for the selection of a Consultant for the preparation of the Feasibility Study and the Environmental and Social Impact Study for the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia has been published on the websites of BH-Gas and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), officially marking the start of the Southern Interconnection project implementation.

For the preparation of these studies, BH-Gas has received grant funds from USAID, which will be implemented through the EBRD. The entire public procurement process will be conducted through the EBRD Client E-Procurement Portal.

The Government of the Federation of BiH, recognizing the importance of supply security for natural gas consumers, previously adopted a conclusion on the strategic interest of this project for the Federation of BiH, and has tasked the relevant Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry and BH-Gas to intensify activities on its implementation," BH Gas announced.

It is also stated that the preparation of the Conceptual Design is planned.

"This is a gas pipeline that runs from the border of Croatia and BiH through Posušje to Novi Travnik with a branch to Mostar, and it will be connected to the existing transport system. With the implementation of the project, Bosnia and Herzegovina / Federation of BiH, in addition to a new route for natural gas supply, would gain access to new sources of natural gas such as the planned LNG terminal in Krk, Croatia, natural gas storage facilities in neighboring countries, gas sources from the Caspian region, and others. This would ensure the reliability and security of natural gas supply to consumers on both the existing and the new planned route.

Concurrently with the preparation of the studies, the preparation of the Conceptual Design with an expropriation report is also planned, for which grant funds have also been secured from the European Commission.

The preparation of this documentation is the first step towards the realization of the new interconnection with the ultimate goal of obtaining an environmental permit and urban consent, after which the main project design is expected, and finally the construction of the gas pipeline and all associated facilities.

The first deliveries of natural gas via the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline are expected in 2023," BH-Gas stated.