DODIK: INVESTMENTS ARE A PRIORITY, GAS PIPELINE TO BE COMPLETED IN THREE YEARS

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 2 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik stated that investments are the most important task of the new government, that Srpska will have BAM four billion in investments as early as next year, and that the gas pipeline will be completed within the next three years.

“The most important thing is investments, this economic and social stability. I believe it exists, it has been achieved, and it needs to be perfected. We need development, we need investments, we need an economic leap. We already have three percent now,” Dodik said. He believes that Republika Srpska will have nearly BAM four billion in investments next year. “We are contracting certain projects, such as the gas pipeline. When we agreed with the Russians to build this gas pipeline, it was worth about BAM two billion at the time, along with two gas power plants. The Bosniaks did not allow us to cross the Drina River with increased profiles. Now, using new technology, we have managed to make the existing passage under the Drina a collection center that will, through compression, be able to fill the entire gas pipeline to Banja Luka and Novi Grad. We have now started this, and I believe the entire gas pipeline will be completed within the next three years,” Dodik stated. He told ATV that the priority will be to reach Banja Luka quickly, after which the pipeline will branch out to Bijeljina. “Bijeljina already has it, of course, but the municipalities of Šamac, Modriča, Brod, all the way to Banja Luka, will also have it, and Prijedor and Novi Grad will have it later in the third year. This way, Republika Srpska will achieve complete gas coverage. This is around 400 million Euros, nearly BAM one billion. It is a serious investment, it is a change, it raises the quality of life, and it ensures economic and energy independence and stability,” Dodik emphasized. He added that these are matters that Republika Srpska is dealing with. “We will continue to work. We will have four billion in investments. We will have complete stability and ongoing processes,” Dodik said.