Both of Republika Srpska’s thermal power plants — Gacko and Ugljevik — have experienced operational disruptions this week, highlighting growing challenges in the entity’s energy sector and prompting swift intervention from the government.
At the Gacko Thermal Power Plant, a boiler pipe rupture caused a temporary production halt in the early hours of November 1. Director Maksim Skoko confirmed that the malfunction occurred in an easily accessible section of the boiler, allowing for quick repairs. He noted that maintenance teams would take advantage of the downtime to resolve several minor issues identified during operation. The plant had been in continuous operation for 57 days, totaling more than 1,370 hours, prior to the incident. Skoko added that during the first ten months of 2025, the Gacko complex exceeded its electricity generation targets by 3 percent and maintained strong coal reserves of over 100,000 tons. The plant is expected to reconnect to the grid later tonight or in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Ugljevik Thermal Power Plant was forced to suspend operations due to a shortage of coal after miners halted work. Director Diko Cvijetinović explained that the management had spent the previous day negotiating with the workers in an attempt to ease their concerns over the Ugljevik Istok 2 coal concession and alleged third-party involvement in its exploitation. He stated that miners fear the concession could be taken away from RiTE Ugljevik, despite assurances from Prime Minister Savo Minić that this will not happen.
Prolonged rainfall in recent weeks has further disrupted coal production, leaving insufficient reserves to sustain electricity generation. Cvijetinović noted that the shutdown period will be used to conduct routine maintenance, including boiler cleaning and minor technical repairs planned for November. The plant aims to resume operations once the dispute with the miners is resolved and coal supplies are replenished, which could take several days.
Prime Minister Minić recently demanded that the management of state-owned power utility ERS, along with the directors of the Gacko and Ugljevik plants, publicly address the situation without delay. He warned that failure to do so would result in serious consequences, emphasizing that it is time to end the long-standing practice of avoiding accountability within the state energy sector.
