The construction of Tuzla Thermal Power Plant’s ‘Block 7’ has no alternative because it ensures the stability and independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy sector, the State power company Elektroprivreda BiH said on Wednesday.

“Ever since the project was first adopted in 2010, all the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) entity governments supported the construction of the 450 MW ‘Block 7’ because it will ensure the long-term power supply of this Bosnian entity but also cover its future energy deficit produced by the shutting down of some of the existing, dated, power blocs,” said the Elektroprivreda BiH company which is in charge of implementing the project.

After several Bosnian NGOs complained to the Head of the Energy Community, Janez Kopac, that the FBiH government’s decision to guarantee the Bloc’s construction could be harmful, he sent a letter to entity Parliament delegates warning them not to adopt the resolution on state aid “because it could be potentially illegal.”

Elektroprivreda BiH argued that the head of the international organisation in charge of creating an integrated pan-European energy market thus violated the procedures established by the Energy Community Treaty, which was also signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The FBiH Parliament’s support for the construction of ‘Block 7’ cannot result in any harmful consequences for the country, they said. On the contrary, giving up on the project would be detrimental to the stability of Bosnia’s energy sector and the energy independence of the FBiH and Bosnia and Herzegovina.