Country Overview
The European country of Bosnia and Herzegovina is bordered by Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and the Adriatic Sea. The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina is approximately 3.21 million people.
In 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy was ranked 108th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s economy is dependent on the export of electricity, seats, insulated wire, sawn wood, and other furniture.
Environmental Policies
In 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to a 3% unconditional reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on business-as-usual levels by 2030.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 100% of the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina had access to electricity. In 2022, state power companies used coal (61.5%), renewable energy (38.4%), and oil (0.1 %) to generate electricity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hydropower is the dominant type of renewable energy used to generate electricity in the nation.
Recent renewable energy projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina include:
- 250 MW Roof Top Solar Project – The government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuing work a roof top solar program which will install 50,000 photovoltaic arrays on residential and commercial buildings. The solar arrays will have a total capacity of 250 MW. The roof top solar program is forecast to be completed by 2024.
- 84 MW Wind Project – People’s Republic of China company, Goldwind is continuing work on the Ivovik wind project at a site approximately 55 miles west of the nation’s capital, Sarajevo. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
- 50 MW Solar Projects – The state-owned public utility EBiH is continuing work on two solar projects located in a former coal mine waste dump site approximately 150 miles southeast of
- 48 MW Wind Project – In February 2022, Bosnia-Herzegovina company, Energy 3 commissioned the Podvelezje wind project at a site approximately 50 miles southwest of Sarajevo.
- 45 MW Solar Project – Norwegian renewable energy company, Greenstat is continuing work on a solar project at a site approximately 50 miles southwest of Sarajevo. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
Conclusions
Bosnia and Herzegovina imports refined petroleum and natural gas for power generation, heating, and transportation. In 2021, the country imported U.S. $901 million of refined petroleum.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
In 2021, Bosnia and Herzegovina imported U.S. $66.7 million of natural gas and U.S. 36.9 million in coal from Russia In 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina has dramatically cut the use of all Russian imports.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources, hydropower, solar, onshore wind, and biomass. Bosnia and Herzegovina is now ramping up the development of renewables to offset the loss of Russian natural gas and coal.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on a diverse range of energy issues.