BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chair Borjana Kristo said Tuesday that the field of energy is under the jurisdiction of entities and that there are no conditions for the Council of Ministers to decide on the southern gas interconnection because "the Federation of BiH (FBiH) does not have a law on the basis of which this can be done."

“Regarding announcements about gas interconnections and certain proposed conclusions, I don't see any reason when it comes to natural gas supply, that BiH should be exclusively dependent on the supply of natural gas from imports in only one direction. Therefore, I think that BiH should develop its natural gas system in the entire territory by securing new transport routes. Such a need is more than justified. Those are the priorities and interests of BiH, I don't see any reason why anyone has anything against such projects,” Kristo said.

When it comes to the adoption of the Law on Gas, the CoM has not yet received a conclusion from the BiH Presidency, she said.

“As far as I am aware, that conclusion is at the relevant Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. As for passing laws, it is the competence of the entity level, and I think that all institutions, including us, should adhere to the competence of BiH,” Kristo said. “When it comes to the energy sector, it is the jurisdiction of the entities. I don't see any reason for anyone to be on the side of someone who would block such projects that are on the side of BiH”.

She stressed that the moment the Law on Southern Interconnection in the FBiH is passed, the CoM will consider the issue.

The southern gas interconnection envisages the construction of a gas pipeline that would import gas from Croatia and thus solve the country's complete dependence on Russian gas.

The Eastern Gas Interconnection envisages the establishment of another gas pipeline from Serbia via Zvornik to Bijeljina.

Republika Srpska (RS) entity President Milorad Dodik recently announced that RS ministers will not participate in the work of the BiH CoM unless the issue of eastern interconnection is on the agenda.

The situation was resolved at the meeting between BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic and Dodik, where it was agreed that decisions on the realization of the eastern and southern gas interconnection will be made at the next session.