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Elektroprivreda BiH to invest EUR 885 million over next three years

Government-controlled power company Elektroprivreda BiH plans to invest BAM 1.73 billion (EUR 884.6 million) over the next three years, according to its 2026-2028 business plan.

The investments would be financed through loans, and BAM 538 million (EUR 275 million) from own funds of Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH), which operates in the Federation of BiH. Of note, it is one of the two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other one is the Republic of Srpska.

In line with available funds and restructuring plans, the company intends to continue investing in coal mines within the EPBiH group over the three-year period.

The goal is a stable and sustainable coal production at the volume needed for the planned operation of the thermal power plants, the utility said.

The previous business plan, for the 2025-2027 period, provided for investments of BAM 2.1 billion (EUR 1.074 billion).

The three-year period should be marked by the construction of a large number of PV plants

EPBiH has highlighted the construction of new renewable energy power plants as a long-term strategic and priority goal. The construction of several solar power plants at already identified locations are particularly significant, the plan reads.

The upcoming three-year period should be marked by the construction of a large number of PV facilities at multiple locations on mining sites, company-owned land, on the roofs of its own facilities and those of its customers, EPBiH explained.

EPBiH also plans to acquire operational renewable energy facilities as well as projects in development. The plan envisages the purchase or lease of land suitable for the construction of solar power plants.

Positive business performance and maintaining the position as the dominant electricity supplier in BiH are also outlined in the business plan, adopted by the company’s assembly.

Desulfurization and denitrification of flue gases projects are planned for two thermal power plants

EPBiH has launched flue gas desulfurization and denitrification projects for its Tuzla and Kakanj coal-fired power plants. It would also upgrade unit 7 in Kakanj, unit 4 in Tuzla, and the Salakovac hydropower plant.

The document envisages the establishment of the distribution system operator (DSO), based on the provisions of the Law on Electricity of the Federation of BiH. It came into force in August 2023.

The law stipulates unbundling the distribution activity from EPBiH and establishing the DSO as a separate legal entity, a 100%-owned subsidiary, the company underlined.

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EU4CAET project pre-selects 43 ideas for first renewable energy communities in BiH

A total of 43 project ideas from 28 local authorities for establishing the first renewable energy communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been pre-selected to receive assistance under the EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition project.

The EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition (EU4CAET) project is jointly financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Under the slogan ‘Together for Energy Transition,’ the EUR 3 million project is implemented by GIZ.

The initiative aims to empower local municipalities, citizens, and private actors to develop sustainable energy solutions that create jobs, improve energy efficiency, and advance climate goals, according to the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A total of 51 municipalities submitted 89 project ideas

In the project’s development phase, 51 municipalities submitted a total of 89 project ideas, such as solar power plants, heat pumps, biomass heating systems, public lighting upgrades, and electric vehicle charging stations.

The proposed projects also included kindergartens, youth centers, sports halls, theaters, health centers, and other public facilities. Following the evaluation, 28 local self-governments submitted their first concept notes, and 43 ideas were pre-selected.

“The final selection, based on detailed concept notes, is currently ongoing. The number of final projects will depend on the quality of submitted concepts and available funding under EU4CAET,” the Communication Office of the Delegation of the EU to BiH & EU Special Representative in BiH told Balkan Green Energy News.

The evaluation will begin in January 2026

The deadline for the pre-selected local authorities to submit their detailed concept notes was December 20. The evaluation of the submitted concepts will begin in January 2026.

Selected local authorities will be invited to present and discuss their ideas in more detail, according to the Communication Office.

The strongest concepts will receive assistance for capacity development, business planning, feasibility studies, and the preparation of technical design documentation.

The 28 municipalities pre-selected for further evaluation are as follows: Bijeljina, Bileća, Centar Sarajevo, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Drvar, Goražde, Ilijaš, Kakanj, Kalesija, Laktaši, Maglaj, Milići, Modriča, Mostar, Novi Grad, Novi Travnik, Novo Sarajevo, Šamac, Sokolac, Srebrenica, Teslić, Travnik, Višegrad, Vogošća, Zenica, Živinice, and Zvornik.

BiH does not yet have renewable energy communities, but one of its two entities – the Republic of Srpska – managed to adopt the necessary regulations for their establishment in May this year, becoming the first in the region to do so.

Hahr: The grant call is planned for February 2026 and 2027

Mareike Hahr, Head of EU4CAET, said the project is now focused on tailored technical assistance to further refine the ideas and prepare high-quality applications for the grant call, planned for February 2026 and 2027.

“What has been particularly encouraging is the remarkable level of interest and readiness shown by local communities from both entities to ‘enter new terrain’—to propose their own project concepts, explore innovative solutions, and actively shape their energy future,” she explained.

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Firms from Croatia, BiH, Serbia to build power line in North Macedonia

Croatia-based Dalekovod, Elnos from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbian Kodar Energomontaža will jointly build electricity transmission infrastructure in North Macedonia.

Dalekovod said it signed a EUR 19.7 million contract with MEPSO, the transmission system operator of North Macedonia, as the lead member of a consortium that includes Elnos BL and Kodar Energomontaža.

The contracted works include the delivery and construction of a 400 kV power line from the 400/110 kV Bitola 2 substation, via the 400/110 kV Ohrid substation, to the North Macedonia – Albania border.

The project ensures long-term stability of the electricity system in the wider region

The new Ohrid substation is currently under construction, with Končar, another Croatian company, as contractor. Končar is the majority shareholder of Dalekovod since 2022.

The Croatian firm pointed out that the new power line in North Macedonia represents a significant infrastructure project ensuring long-term stability of the electricity system in the wider region.

Dalekovod: Strengthening position in the regional and European market

Construction is scheduled for completion by mid-2028.

Of note, all three companies are active on the territory of former Yugoslavia, as well as across Europe and even worldwide. The owners of Elnos and Kodar are individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, respectively, while the largest shareholders of Dalekovod are the Government of Croatia and three foreign banks operating in the country.

Operations in the region, Europe, Africa

Dalekovod has subsidiaries in six countries, including Namibia. In October, the company concluded a EUR 100 million deal for the construction of a 400 kV power line in Sweden.

Elnos BL is part of Elnos Group based in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The company, which recently marked a remarkable dual jubilee – 80 years of tradition and 30 years of modern business development, operates in 18 countries.

A week ago, it signed a contract with Power China Construction Group to build a connection to the transmission grid for the 300 MW Vetrozelena wind farm in Serbia.

Kodar Energomontaža, headquartered in Serbia’s capital Belgrade, has carried out numerous projects across Europe – from southeastern Balkans to Scandinavia, as well as in West Africa.

In March, the company inked a deal with Serbia’s transmission system operator Elektromreža Srbije (EMS) for the construction of a two-system 400 kV transmission line, part of the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor.

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Elnos to construct grid connection for wind farm Vetrozelena in Serbia

Elnos Group will build a connection to the transmission grid for the 300 MW Vetrozelena wind farm near the city of Pančevo in Serbia.

Vetrozelena is the largest wind power plant under construction in Serbia. The largest existing one is Čibuk 1, with a capacity of 158 MW. It has been producing electricity since October 2019.

Elnos Group is headquartered in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The company said it celebrated its 30th anniversary of modern business operations by signing a contract with the Power China Construction Group to build the largest wind farm in the Balkans.

Elnos will construct the entire infrastructure for connecting the facility to the transmission system

Elnos Serbia has signed an EPC contract with Sinohydro, a subsidiary of Power China Construction Group, for the construction of the Vetrozelena wind farm, the largest single wind project in the Balkans, with a total capacity of 300 MW, according to the update.

The wind farm would comprise 48 turbines with a capacity of 6.25 MW each.

Of note, the region hosts another major wind project – in July, the construction of a 400 MW wind farm kicked off in North Macedonia.

Elnos Serbia, member of Elnos Group, is undertaking the construction of the complete connection to the transmission system operated by Serbia’s transmission system operator (TSO) Elektromreža Srbije (EMS).

The project includes the construction of a 35/400 kV substation with four transformers of 90 MVA each, a 400 kV switchyard with six fields, a 7.5-kilometer 400 kV dual-system power line, as well as the infrastructure upgrade of the distribution grid and telecommunications network.

Ćulibrk: We will successfully complete the project within the contracted timeframe

This is another contract concluded on an EPC basis under which Elnos Serbia is handling the complete engineering, design, construction of facilities, procurement and installation of equipment, connection to the grid, testing, and commissioning.

“The expertise and dedication of our engineers, technicians, and installers, our comprehensive knowledge and extensive experience on similar projects, along with the company’s financial and organizational stability, give us confidence that we will successfully complete this project within the contracted deadlines,” Elnos Serbia CEO Predrag Ćulibrk underscored.

The project was developed by CWP

The Vetrozelena project was developed by CWP Europe. It is also one of the projects that won the government support in Serbia’s first auctions. However, in April 2023, the company signed an investment contract for the wind farm with PowerChina Resources.

The Chinese company acquired 51% of the project while the remainder stayed in ownership of CWP Europe. PowerChina Resources is PowerChina Group’s overseas investment platform.

The next step in the project’s development occurred in November. Vetrozelena and power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) signed agreements on the electricity offtake, balancing services, and market premiums.

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Federation of BiH to upgrade air quality monitoring with EUR 1.1 million

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is investing BAM 2.2 million to upgrade the air quality monitoring system.

Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder has signed contracts worth BAM 2.19 million (EUR 1.1 million) for the procurement of up-to-date equipment to upgrade the measurement program of the stations in the Federal Air Quality Monitoring Network.

The units are managed by the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute (FHMZ).

The procurement of the equipment is financed by a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), as part of the Air Quality Improvement Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is being implemented with the support of the World Bank.

The equipment will be supplied by two firms

The contracts envisage the purchase of air quality equipment worth BAM 1.8 million KM (about EUR 920,000) to be supplied by Sarajevo-based firm E3, and laboratory equipment worth BAM 142.422 KM (about EUR 73,000), to be delivered by Altium International, registered in Sarajevo. The third one – worth BAM 218,040 KM (EUR 111,500) – is for spare parts, and the supplier is also E3.

The equipment will enable the full implementation of the measurement program at all stations of the federal network, including all key parameters for assessing air quality, according to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Mostar and Tuzla will get two stations

The system has been further expanded with the installation of two fixed stations in Mostar and Tuzla. FHMZ also received one mobile station for emergency field measurements in case of accidents.

The FHMZ laboratory has also been improved. Now it has the capacity to conduct analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), important indicators of pollution and health risks to the population.

The equipment represents a significant step toward a more comprehensive, reliable, and modern air quality monitoring system in FBiH, the ministry underlined.

Pozder: Faster response to increases in air pollution

Minister Pozder stressed it is one of the most concrete steps toward strengthening the infrastructure for air quality monitoring.

She recalled that the public has the right to accurate information about the air it breathes and that institutions are obligated to provide reliable data and modern systems.

“Today, we are entering a new phase of modernization that will enable better planning and faster responses to increased air pollution,” Pozder said.

Almir Bijedić, director of FHMZ, pointed out that the new equipment and information system would significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of the institution’s work. It is the largest investment to date, he added.

Bijedić: It is very important that now we have the ability to analyze the concentration of PAHs

“FHMZ will be able to provide higher quality and faster information to citizens and institutions. It is very important that the new system enables the analysis of PAHs, allowing us for the first time to fully monitor the parameters critical for assessing health risks. This is a major step forward for the institute and the Federation of BiH,” Bijedić said.

The ministry noted it is completing the procurement of a new air quality information system, estimated at BAM 150,000 (EUR 77,000). It will significantly improve the digital capabilities of the monitoring system.

The new software will enable faster and more reliable validation and verification of data, real-time data display, centralized management, and more secure data storage, as well as more detailed trend analyses and automated reporting to the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Ministry of Environment and Tourism explained.

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