On the occasion of April 26, World Renewable Energy Day (RES), which is marked worldwide as a remembrance day of the consequences of Chernobyl disaster and the harmfulness of nuclear energy, as well as energy from fossil fuels, we remind that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to produce most of their energy from coal-fired thermal power plants, which have been proven to be harmful to health, climate and the environment.
“In addition, our country is threatened by the harmful consequences of the disposal of radioactive waste from the Krško nuclear power plant in Trgovska Gora on the border between Croatia and BiH, which is only one kilometer away from the Una Nature Park and the river of the same name. This is a serious and dangerous threat to the health of the population and the environment, “said Majda Ibrakovic, coordinator of the Energy and Climate Change Program at the Center for Environment.
She emphasizes that our country has great potential for the production of energy from renewable sources, and as a member of the Energy Community, the obligation to increase consumption while encouraging the production of energy from renewable sources.
Awareness of the need to replace these sources with renewable energy sources has increased in the last three decades, and investments in new technologies, such as solar and wind energy, have become a worldwide trend.
The existing system of incentives in BiH is outdated and implies a guaranteed price and purchase for a period of 12 to 15 years for commercial producers through the collection of fees for renewable energy sources from citizens. As solar and wind power technology has advanced significantly in the last 10 years, the prices of these technologies have fallen by almost 90% making them far more competitive, sustainable and affordable than hydro and coal-fired power plants. This means that commercial producers of electricity from renewable sources do not need incentives at all.
“Through the current legislation, the domestic authorities have made it possible to give incentives mainly to small hydropower plants (SHPPs) investors. In this way, all other producers are brought into an unequal position, especially non-commercial producers and independent producers-consumers, while citizens’ money enables the enrichment of investors in SHPPs that are undoubtedly harmful to nature and people “, explains Viktor Bjelic from the Center for Environment.
He emphasizes that the entity governments in BiH are currently preparing drafts of new laws on renewable energy sources in which citizens energy should be recognized as the greatest social benefit for which it is necessary to provide investment incentives from the fee paid by the same citizens through electricity bills. Abolishing the current incentives for privileged producers would create a legal framework in which citizens would be individually or by associating in RES communities stimulated to produce and use independently produced energy. In order to bring this system and the new legal framework, closer to the citizens and enable investments in citizens energy, it is important that citizens clearly express their views and opinions by participating in public consultations on this draft law, which is expected to happen in the second half of 2021. In the coming period, the Center for Environment will, through advocacy and public campaigns, inform citizens about this very important process and invite public participation in the law-making process.