Government is killing the economy with electricity prices, employers announce protests

- A meeting of representatives of 13 companies, which are among the largest  electricity consumers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was held today. The meeting was organized by the Employers' Association of FBiH, and was attended by representatives of ArcelorMittal, Violeta, Konzum, Mercator, AS Group, Sisecam Soda Lukavac, TMD Group Gradačac, Pobjeda Tešanj, Kakanj Cement Factory, Feal Široki Brijeg, ASA Prevent Group, Bingo, and EMKA Goražde.

It was concluded at the meeting that an increase in electricity prices for the economy by more than 10 percent is completely unacceptable. Namely, in the past three months, electricity companies in FBiH have offered their customers, business companies, new contracts in which the price of electricity is 150 to 200 percent higher than the current one.

Yesterday, it was emphasized that any increase in electricity prices by more than 10 percent for business entities would lead to the partial or complete shutdown of operations in companies, a decrease in exports, and a drop in investments. This would lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the economy of FBiH, as well as a reduction in wages.  Also, there would be an increase in inflation by two to three percent, all of which together leads to a significant decrease in the standard of living of citizens.

Citizens should be aware that not increasing electricity prices for households for the last 11 years does not protect the standard of living of citizens. What is more, an increase in electricity prices for the economy leads to an increase in the prices of goods and services that only citizens pay for. If it wants to protect the standard of living of citizens, the FBiH Government must not allow excessive increases in electricity prices for business entities.

Given that the majority of companies will not be able to bear the excessive increase in electricity prices, it was agreed at the meeting to send a petition to the FBiH Government demanding that the increase in electricity prices for the economy must not be higher than 10 percent. It was agreed that a half-hour warning strike would be organized in the company plants in FBiH.
A request was also made for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister of FBiH, Fadil Novalić, and the Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry, Nermin Džindić.