Aluminij workers abandoned protest in front of HDZ, blocked traffic near Mostar

MOSTAR, (Patria) - Several hundred Aluminij workers blocked traffic on the M17 main road north of Mostar, after today's blockade was temporarily interrupted. 

Aluminij workers had previously announced a blockade of the part of Mostar where the headquarters of HDZ BiH is located, but they abandoned that idea.

Aluminij has secured electricity supply until midnight tonight, after which the plant could be disconnected from the grid.

In the past few years, Aluminij has been operating at a loss, and the company's total debt amounts to almost 400 million marks, of which more than half is debt for consumed electricity.

Member of the Croatian Parliament Božo Ljubić previously stated that it is absurd that the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which owns Elektroprivreda, supplies electricity to the private company Arcelormittal from Zenica for 42 euros per kilowatt-hour, while Aluminij, which is owned by the FBiH Government, has to procure the same electricity for 78 euros per kilowatt-hour. 

Elektroprivreda BiH denied Ljubić's claims, stating that Aluminij is supplied with electricity by Elektroprivreda HZHB, and that the question of why Aluminij pays for electricity above market price is indeed a valid one.

It was also denied that the Government of the Federation of BiH is the owner of Aluminij. The Government of the Federation of BiH has a 44 percent stake in that company, the Government of Croatia has a 12 percent ownership, while the rest are small shareholders.

The Croatian Government has not yet commented on this issue.