ĐOKIĆ: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IS RESPONSIBLY IMPLEMENTING ITS ENERGY POLICY

TREBINJE, MARCH 19 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska Petar Đokić has said that Republika Srpska is responsibly implementing its energy policy, despite political pressures on the Republic's institutions.

Đokić pointed out that the Energy Summit in Trebinje, which opened today, is one of the largest energy events of regional significance, as it provides a strong contribution to the energy transition process in which Republika Srpska and the region are participating, due to the structure of its participants and the content of its topics. "Through this summit, pathways for the future are being defined, specifically how to ensure the stability and security of the energy sector in each country through the energy transition," Đokić told reporters. He says that the goal of the transition is to be just, to enable further development of the energy sector, and to enhance the overall energy activities of every country where it is being implemented. "Republika Srpska is very aware of this, and over the past ten years, we have adopted all the necessary regulations expected of us when it comes to implementing EU directives related to energy, as well as the guidelines provided by the Energy Community," Đokić said. He added that Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske is the largest investor in hydro and solar energy, recalling that the Dabar and Bistrica hydropower plants are under construction, while the Solar Trebinje project is simultaneously being developed, and work is underway on the development of the Hrgud wind power plant project. Đokić has said that the energy landscape of this region will be different by 2027, when, among others, the Dabar and Bistrica hydropower plants are connected to the grid. "We currently have contracts for the construction of energy facilities, with the value of investments in that sector amounting to around BAM four and a half billion. This is of enormous importance for Republika Srpska," Đokić said. He has said that Republika Srpska is responsibly implementing its energy policy, despite political pressures on the Republic's institutions, noting that serious steps have been taken toward the construction of a gas network in the eastern part of Republika Srpska. "By building gas infrastructure, we will bring Republika Srpska closer to modern economic processes by enabling gas to be an energy source that investors can utilize," Đokić said. He expects European financial institutions to be ready to support energy activities more than they have in previous years and decades. The international Trebinje Energy Summit /SET/ began today, and over its three-day duration, it is expected to gather around 600 participants.