The energy transition, commonly known as the green transition, is one of the primary conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s continued path toward the European Union, and local communities have already taken certain steps in this context. Among them is Tuzla, the first city in the country to develop a green transition strategy.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to join the European Union, implementing the energy transition as one of the primary conditions is essential. The issues of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources are particularly relevant in the current period, and local communities have already taken certain actions.
One of these is Tuzla, which has officially begun drafting a green transition strategy, reaffirming the city’s commitment to environmental protection, clean air, and the use of renewable energy sources.
The strategy will include clear guidelines for improving environmental conditions, increasing energy efficiency, and fostering sustainable development over the next ten years. Tuzla Mayor Zijad Lugavić noted that the city has been a pioneer in energy efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2019.
“In 2019, through four support lines, we began co-financing the installation of heat pumps, building insulation, pellet stoves, and connection to the central heating system. Today, we are taking a new step by leading the green transition and laying the foundation for cleaner air and a healthier environment. This is an opportunity to combine efforts at local, regional, and international levels because polluted air knows no borders,” said Lugavić.
The development of the strategy also represents an entry point for future investments, as the European Union and other donors condition financial support on the existence of aligned strategic documents.
“This is the first step in a multi-year process that will contribute to achieving the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 2050, in line with European standards and global priorities,” emphasized Lugavić.
Tuzla’s City Administration plans to use its own resources while also applying for funding from European Union funds and bilateral donors to implement green transition projects.
“Tuzla will become the first city in Bosnia and Herzegovina with such a strategic document, demonstrating a visionary approach. The green transition brings benefits on multiple levels – ecological, social, and economic. With a quality plan and international cooperation, Tuzla has the opportunity to set an example for other communities,” said Borut Jurišić, a representative of the Regional Development Agency from Maribor.
The green transition strategy, as a strategic document, is being developed in Tuzla under the program “Strategic Approach to Green Transition – SAGT,” in partnership with the Regional Development Agency from Maribor, BIT Center in Tuzla, and with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The Committee for Economic and Financial Policy of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament convened today to discuss the likely increase in electricity costs for healthcare institutions in the entity, KLIX reports.
Impact of Electricity Price Hike on Healthcare
The committee’s chairman, Admir Čavalić (SBiH), explained that representatives from the energy and healthcare sectors attended the session to address the implications of the planned electricity price hike set to take effect on January 1.
“Here’s what it means—despite citizens regularly paying health insurance contributions, a portion of those contributions will now go toward covering higher electricity bills. We are working to resolve this by the end of the year, possibly through amendments to the Electricity Law, adjustments to decisions by the Federation Energy Regulatory Commission (FERK), or by having the two power utilities create a new tariff model to support public healthcare institutions,” Čavalić stated.
He emphasized that applying market-based electricity prices to a social sector like healthcare raises significant concerns.
“We are looking for ways to classify health institutions as consumers of special importance. Cold chains, vaccine storage, and similar operations could be jeopardized next year, especially since some healthcare institutions—particularly those at the cantonal level—might struggle to cover these costs,” he added.
Čavalić revealed that the expected increase in electricity costs for healthcare institutions would be around 20%.
Wage Increase and Regulatory Challenges
Čavalić also addressed the Federation government’s efforts to increase workers’ wages via a new regulation.
“When it comes to this regulation, the government has abandoned amending the Income Tax Law. There are several issues with the proposed regulation, and we can’t delve into its merits because it’s unclear whether it exists, has been adopted, or if anyone has seen the actual document. We have an unofficial, unsigned document, and we know it hasn’t been passed. The problematic part is that the document is reportedly ‘confidential,’ as stated by the prime minister (Nermin Nikšić), who claims it’s being ‘hidden from the public.’ With the year-end approaching, employers need to plan their budgets, making this a significant issue,” Čavalić noted.
He added that while it seems certain that the minimum wage will increase from 619 KM to 700 KM, other related measures remain ambiguous and unresolved.
Although it is declaratively mentioned at the state level, the energy transition of Bosnia and Herzegovina has largely been relegated to local communities, which are unable to fully address all the imposed challenges, reports Klix.
In practice, it is evident that the speed of progress on the “green path” depends on the strength and financial capabilities of a Bosnian city or municipality, resulting in uneven outcomes.
Tuzla, as a local community, is one of the most aware in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of the green transition, which, among other things, involves the use of renewable energy sources, providing additional energy security for citizens.
However, compared to developed European countries, the lag is apparent, highlighting the necessity of engagement from higher levels of government.
“It is important that all the problems we have related to energy security—including energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources, and addressing energy-poor households—begin to be resolved more progressively. For this, the support of higher levels of government is extremely important—from cantonal, through federal, to state levels, as well as the goodwill of international institutions to provide us with additional funds,” says Džemila Agić, director of the Center for Ecology and Energy from Tuzla, in an interview with Klix.ba.
Džemila Agić (Foto: A. K./Klix.ba)
Transition Challenges for Local Communities
Experts point out that the energy transition is costly, even for developed local communities with significant financial resources, and the process is even more challenging for those with lower economic status.
In Tuzla Canton, eight local communities have developed their own plans to reduce energy poverty and have appealed for help from higher levels of government and the international community.
“They openly seek partners, stating that they have identified the problem and are doing what they can, but they cannot bear the full burden of solving it. Local communities are close to citizens but are not responsible for all problems. Higher levels of government must recognize the problem, come down to the level of citizens, and help them survive this energy transition,” Agić explains.
Tuzla is the first city in Bosnia and Herzegovina to officially begin drafting a green transition strategy, confirming the City Administration’s commitment to environmental protection, clean air, and the use of renewable energy sources. The strategy will include clear guidelines for improving environmental conditions, increasing energy efficiency, and achieving sustainable development over the next ten years.
However, creating this document was preceded by a painstaking start to the transition journey, involving the implementation of a wide range of activities over several years.
Strategic and Operational Measures
Miralem Mulać, assistant mayor of Tuzla for communal affairs, construction, and local community operations, tells Klix.ba that all actions taken so far have primarily impacted reducing air pollution and the consumption of electricity and heat energy.
“Tuzla carries out both strategic and so-called operational activities. We were the first in Bosnia and Herzegovina to start co-financing measures to reduce air pollution, which has also led to increased energy efficiency, including building insulation, the installation of heat pumps, the use of pellet stoves, and connections to the district heating system,” Mulać notes.
Miralem Mulać (Foto: A. K./Klix.ba)
From 2019 to date, the Tuzla City Administration has issued 11 public calls, and as time passes, citizen interest grows, reflecting an awakening awareness of the importance of preserving the environment.
“To date, we have invested 3.9 million BAM in implementing 1,100 measures. However, we don’t have enough funds to meet the demand from citizens who want to participate in our programs. The strategy addresses issues such as public city transport, so-called green infrastructure, the construction of parks and facades, and finding alternative methods of heat and electricity supply. We are already working on mapping potential sources,” Mulać points out, emphasizing the importance of support from higher levels of government.
Advocacy for Energy Justice
All these topics were discussed during a workshop aimed at strengthening advocacy activities related to energy justice and improving the existing cooperation between civil and public sectors in Tuzla.
Among the organizers was the Front Freedom Association, which expressed concern about the impact of polluting energy sources, particularly coal-fired thermal power plants, and urged authorities and the energy sector to accelerate investments in renewable energy sources and support the transition to a decentralized energy network.
“Without citizen participation and accountability from decision-makers, the energy transition could become another project that neglects the needs of local communities. We demand planning based on science, social justice, and intergenerational solidarity. We call on all levels of government, the private sector, and citizens to collaborate in building an energy-secure and sustainable Tuzla, as the future of our community is in our hands,” says Adnan Gavranović, president of the Front Freedom Association.
Adnan Gavranović (Foto: A. K./Klix.ba)
As an organization dedicated to social justice, environmental protection, and democratic development, Front Freedom emphasizes the importance of a responsible energy transition that guarantees security, sustainability, and the rights of all citizens.
“Tuzla faces a dual challenge: ensuring a stable energy supply and urgently reducing the environmental impact. As representatives of civil society, we call for a transparent, inclusive, and fair energy transition process,” Gavranović stressed.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Carbon Neutrality Goal
Finally, it should be noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to become a carbon-neutral country by 2050, an obligation it accepted by signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community, the Paris Agreement, the Sofia Declaration, and numerous other documents.
However, to achieve what has been mandated, the energy transition must cease to exist solely on paper as a matter of state importance, which is the current reality in practice.
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Adnan Gavranović (Foto: A. K./Klix.ba)