FBiH Government Adopts Six Spending Programs Worth BAM 318.2 Million

(Patria) - The FBiH Government today, at a telephone session, upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Communications, adopted decisions on the approval of six spending programs determined by the FBiH budget for 2026 to this ministry in the total amount of BAM 318,200,000.

These funds are primarily intended for financing road and railway infrastructure.

Within capital transfers to public enterprises, three spending programs were adopted.

The first program relates to the transfer for the construction of highways, expressways, main roads, and other roads in the amount of BAM 150,000,000, and the second to the transfer to public enterprises for road infrastructure in the amount of BAM 94,000,000.

By today's decision, a Program for spending funds to other levels of government and funds in the amount of BAM 21,000,000 was also adopted, with beneficiaries being cantons, cities, municipalities, and funds in the Federation of BiH.

Today, two spending programs for current transfers to the railways of the Federation of BiH were adopted. For subsidies to public enterprises - Transfer to Railways of the Federation of BiH, BAM 34,200,000 is planned for JP Railways of the Federation of BiH Ltd. Sarajevo.

The purpose of the program is the implementation of the Law on Financing Railway Infrastructure and Co-financing of Passenger and Combined Transport, according to which the Federation of BiH finances the maintenance of railway infrastructure and co-finances railway passenger and combined transport on lines for which interest is expressed.

The second spending program, "Subsidies to Public Enterprises - Transfer for Settlement of Obligations under the Law on Financial Consolidation of JP Railways FBiH Ltd. Sarajevo," plans an amount of BAM 9,000,000 for the purpose of paying obligations to the Federal Pension and Disability Insurance Fund.

The purpose of this program is the implementation of the Law on Financial Consolidation of JP Railways FBiH Ltd. for the period 2008-2012, according to which the Federation of BiH assumes the debt obligations of this company to public funds as of December 31, 2007, and for the period 2008-2012.

Upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Communications, a Spending Program "Current Transfers and Other Current Expenditures - Subsidies to Public Enterprises - Improvement of Broadcasting Activities" in the amount of BAM 10,000,000 was also adopted.

The distribution of these funds will be based on a conducted public call, in accordance with the general conditions of participation and specific criteria for distribution determined by this decision.

Assistance to Displaced Persons, Returnees, and Refugees

The FBiH Government today, upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees, adopted decisions on the approval of four spending programs with criteria for the distribution of funds from current transfers to individuals and capital transfers to other levels of government and funds determined by the FBiH budget in the total amount of BAM 45 million.

At the same time, the Return, Reconstruction, Construction, and Sustainable Return Development Plan for 2026 of the Federal Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees was adopted.

These programs are adopted with the aim of creating conditions for the successful implementation of infrastructure assistance projects and the realization of the goals from the Return, Reconstruction, Construction, and Sustainable Return Development Plan for 2026, i.e., providing assistance to displaced persons, returnees, and refugees in the BiH entity of RS.

The spending program with distribution criteria "Capital Transfers to Other Levels of Government and Funds - Support for the Implementation of Sustainable Return of Displaced and Expelled Persons from the Srebrenica Region" allocates BAM 5 million.

The funds are intended to support the sustainability of return in the Srebrenica region, including for reconstruction and construction, co-financing the purchase of real estate for memorialization projects, protection of cultural heritage and significant facilities, construction of infrastructure for the economic development of the Srebrenica region, and projects of the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center and the complex in Potočari.

The spending program with distribution criteria "Current Transfers to Individuals - Current Transfers for Return Programs in RS" amounts to BAM 11 million, of which BAM 6 million is allocated for reconstruction and construction projects, and BAM 5 million for employment assistance for returnees.

The spending program with distribution criteria "Current Transfers to Individuals - Transfer for Displaced Persons and Returnees" allocates funds in the total amount of BAM 25 million through six programs.

Four million BAM are allocated for the Spending Program with distribution criteria "Current Transfer for Joint, Inter-Entity, and Municipal Projects and Projects with Non-Governmental Organizations".

The funds will be distributed according to the criteria established in the programs, in accordance with the 2026 Return Plan.

Information on Coal

The FBiH Government adopted the Information from the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Industry on the state of coal reserves at thermal power plant depots, coal supply from coal mines in 2025 and 2026, and the procurement of additional quantities of lignite coal for the needs of JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. Sarajevo in 2026.

JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. is tasked by conclusion to procure an additional 400,000 tons of lignite coal in 2026 with a lower heating value of 12,000 - 14,000 kJ/kg for the needs of the Kakanj Thermal Power Plant units, in accordance with the needs from the Electricity Balance for 2026, which will not cause negative effects on the business operations of JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d.

Furthermore, JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. Sarajevo is tasked, through the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Industry, to inform the FBiH Government about each individual procurement of additional coal quantities, as well as to submit a comprehensive report on coal procurement for the needs of TE Tuzla and TE Kakanj within 30 days, according to the Conclusion of the FBiH Government dated April 30, 2025.