Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar on Tuesday received Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation Energy Minister Vedran Lakic for talks on the importance of energy cooperation between the two neighbours, particularly the role of the Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline project in that regard.

Croatia's ministry stated on its website that the Zagreb meeting was an opportunity to discuss crucial topics for bilateral cooperation, notably in the fields of energy security, trade and joint investments.

Susnjar was quoted as saying that he believes today's meeting “is an opportunity to discuss open issues, and thus contribute to the strengthening of our bilateral cooperation and the maintenance of good relations between two friendly countries.”

The Croatian minister highlighted energy cooperation between the two countries, particularly the strategic significance of the Southern Gas Interconnection project.

“The Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline is a crucial step towards strengthening energy security and diversifying gas supply in the region,” Susnjar said, noting that Croatia provides strong support for the continued implementation of this project, recognising its role in ensuring energy stability for BiH and contributing to shared climate goals.

Lakic said that the meeting “is confirmation of the unwavering commitment of the Government of the Federation of BiH and the Government of Croatia to boosting cooperation in the field of energy, as well as the long-standing successful cooperation between the operators of gas transmission systems in Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the companies BH-Gas and Plinacro.”

The Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline project between the gas transmission systems of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, along the route Zagvozd-Imotski-Posusje-Tomislavgrad-Zenica with a branch to Mostar, is of strategic importance for the security of supply to the neighbouring country, as it currently depends on only one entry point into the gas transmission system, which is from Serbia, via the BiH Serb dominated entity of Republika Srpska.

The project ensures the diversification of supply routes and sources, via the LNG terminal on the island of Krk, the future Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline, and other supply routes that go through Croatia, as well as the further gasification of BiH, which will also result in an increase in the transit of natural gas through Croatia.

Croatia's sections of the Southern Gas Interconnection include the 52-kilometre-long Dugopolje-Zagvozd section and the 22-kilometre-long section from Zagvozd to Imotski, which is the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the BiH side, the total length of the route is 169 kilometres. The planned capacity of the interconnection is up to 1.5 billion cubic metres per year.

The Croats in BiH insist on establishing a new company based in Mostar to build and manage the Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline, while the U.S. Ambassador to BiH, Michael Murphy, and other pro-Bosnian political parties insist that BH Gas, the existing gas operator based in Sarajevo, take over the job.