At an energy conference, Croatia’s Minister of Economy, Ante Šušnjar, announced that Croatia and Italy are exploring the possibility of laying an underwater electricity cable to enhance energy supply along the Croatian coast and facilitate electricity exports to Italy.
Discussions with Italian counterparts are ongoing, and technical solutions have already been drafted, though no specific timeline has been set. The proposed cable, likely to be placed in Dalmatia, would significantly ease peak load issues in coastal Croatia while enabling bidirectional electricity flow. This would allow Croatia to export power to Italy, a major energy consumer. Given that Albania and Montenegro already have similar connections with Italy, Croatia sees this project as a crucial step toward energy integration. While experts will assess the feasibility of the project, the necessary political groundwork is being laid to ensure a swift installation once conditions permit.
Regarding the government’s new energy package, no changes are planned for residential electricity prices. However, the fee for delivered electricity will rise from €120 to €140 per MWh to help suppliers offer competitive market contracts. Additionally, a new regulation on network connections for renewable energy sources is in preparation. The connection fee will be waived, but contracts will include flexibility clauses, allowing grid operators to refuse electricity from renewable plants during periods of excessive load.
On the topic of potential collaboration between Croatia’s oil transport company JANAF and Serbian energy firm NIS, Minister Šušnjar addressed ongoing discussions about JANAF acquiring the Russian stake in NIS. He described a partnership between the two companies as a natural synergy, emphasizing that JANAF would not seek to dominate NIS but rather establish a cooperative relationship. Unlike the Rijeka refinery, NIS’ refinery has already undergone modernization, making collaboration a logical business step if mutual interests align.
