Relevant ministry: Misappropriation of fuel oil led to heating disruption in Vogošća

(Patria) - The Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of the Sarajevo Canton informs the public, and especially the citizens of Vogošća, that the acting director of the company BAGS-Energotehnika has submitted information to the Ministry that the fuel reserves have been spent and the company was forced to interrupt the supply of thermal energy to users.

For this heating season, the Ministry has secured funds for the procurement of fuel for the company BAGS-Energotehnika in the amount of 1.9 million convertible marks.

Under the agreements signed before the start of the heating season, which provided 660 tons of fuel oil, the company BAGS-Energotehnika undertook the obligation to use the fuel oil for the supply of thermal energy to citizens and public institutions in the area of Vogošća.

At the beginning of 2026, financial resources were provided from the budget of the Sarajevo Canton for the procurement of fuel oil in the amount of 400 tons, which should have been sufficient for the supply of thermal energy until the end of the current heating season exclusively to citizens.

The procurement of fuel for the supply of thermal energy to public institutions was the obligation of the company BAGS-Energotehnika to finance from its own revenues.

In this way, the Ministry provided a total of 1,060 tons of fuel oil, which is in line with the estimated needs and fuel consumption from previous seasons, as stated by the company at the beginning of the heating season, and represents a quantity sufficient for the uninterrupted and continuous supply of thermal energy to the citizens of Vogošća throughout the entire season.

Based on the submitted reports, the Ministry determined that part of the fuel financed from the budget of the Sarajevo Canton was misappropriated for the needs of supplying thermal energy to commercial entities in the industrial zone with which commercial contracts were concluded, and for which the company BAGS-Energotehnika was obliged to procure fuel. This jeopardized the stability of the heating system for the citizens of Vogošća.

According to the reports submitted to this Ministry, it was determined that at least 225 tons of fuel oil, or about 25% of the quantity intended for providing the communal service to citizens, was used contrary to its intended purpose.

For the uninterrupted supply of thermal energy to the citizens of Vogošća until the end of the heating season, a maximum of 150 tons of fuel is needed, which is even less than the amount of misappropriated fuel.

The Ministry reminds that a request has been submitted for the issuance of a building permit for the construction of a new boiler room in the area of Vogošća, thereby fulfilling the conditions for nominating this project in the Public Investment Program of the Sarajevo Canton, which will be done on March 30, 2026.

Funds for the implementation of this project have been secured through the Ministry in the budget of the Sarajevo Canton. It can be expected that the construction of the boiler room will begin before the summer season.

In the coming days, the Ministry will review all available options and take measures aimed at finding a solution to the current situation, in order to ensure the continuity of heating for the citizens of Vogošća. The public will be informed in a timely manner about all further steps.