HDZ BiH leader Dragan Covic met in Mostar with Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar and Ivica Arar, CEO of Croatia’s natural gas transmission system operator Plinacro. The meeting focused on energy cooperation, with Plinacro identified as a crucial partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy transition and the Southern Gas Interconnection project.
According to a statement from HDZ BiH, the gas connection between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is of strategic importance and benefits both countries. The selection process for a gas transmission system operator is underway, with an emphasis on safeguarding the strategic and national interests of Croats in areas through which the pipeline will run.
Participants highlighted the importance of long-term investment stability in key infrastructure projects and the need to protect the rights and interests of the Croat population. They stressed the necessity of professional oversight in implementing such strategic initiatives. The Croatian Government and Plinacro were recognized for their institutional experience, which is seen as vital for advancing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy transition, a key component of its path toward European integration.
The officials expressed satisfaction with the discussions and reaffirmed their shared commitment to improving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy security, independence, and diversification.
The Southern Gas Interconnection project aims to link Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia’s gas network, providing access to gas from the LNG terminal in Omisalj. The initiative has received strong backing from the US administration, which has advocated for a specific law in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) to enable gas supply through the Sarajevo-based company BH Gas.
However, Croat political representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina oppose this model. They instead support the establishment of a separate company based in Mostar to oversee the construction and management of the pipeline.
