Minister says BiH's Federation entity to cover Energoinvest gas debt, but company says payments have been ongoing for years

According to Energoinvest, the debt Kosarac refers to arose between 1991 and 1995 for natural gas deliveries totaling USD 104.8 million.

Kosarac told Detektor that during a recent visit to Sochi, in discussions with the co-chair of the Bosnia-Russia Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission, it was agreed that the Federation would pay the debt, as it is a commercial obligation of Energoinvest.

“The debt was incurred by Energoinvest. Is Energoinvest headquartered in the Federation? Yes! We cannot now classify this as public debt, it is a commercial debt. Let the gentlemen pay the debt,” Kosarac said.

Elmedin Konakovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Council of Ministers did not discuss repayment of this debt during its session.

Kosarac also wrote on Instagram that he discussed the debt repayment with Igor Kalabuhov, Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Energoinvest has held the gas import contract since 1979, and the company considers this a commercial debt, but one that it did not personally incur. For this reason, the Council of Ministers of BiH established an independent commission in 2006 with members from both entities to allocate the debt accurately.

The commission issued its findings in 2013, allocating USD 53.89 million to the Federation and USD 50.91 million to Republika Srpska.

According to annexes signed in 1995 and 2007 between Energoinvest and Gazprom Export, the debt has been repaid by adding USD 5 to every 1,000 cubic meters of gas invoiced. Thanks to payments from the Federation of BiH government, the debt has been reduced by around USD 14.1 million. Energoinvest notes that obligations are being met on time, ensuring the company’s operations and consumer gas supply in BiH are not threatened.

“Unfortunately, Republika Srpska does not fulfill its obligations under this arrangement. This approach creates additional burden and risk, as unpaid obligations do not disappear—they only become a bigger problem in the future,” Energoinvest added.

Siniša Vukelic, editor of Capital.ba, told Detektor that Kosarac’s statements represent either political propaganda or a lack of understanding.

“Either Minister Kosarac does not understand his portfolio, or he is seeking cheap political points as if he is achieving something in cooperation with other countries. This is how he appeals to voters ahead of the presidential campaign. This is not how someone should seriously handle their responsibilities,” Vukelic said.

Almir Becarevic, long-time director of BH GAS, reminded that both entities used natural gas during the war.

“Energoinvest could not control gas consumption in Zvornik during the war. End users from RS do not pay for the gas they consumed in the war. Mr. Kosarac knows very well how much gas each side used; this data is held by the Ministry. Republika Srpska consumed the gas, while the Federation—citizens and companies—are now paying for it,” Becarevic said, adding that the debt also includes gas consumption in Serbia.

Mirza Ustamujic, director of Energoinvest, told Detektor that gas prices for Federation citizens remain among the lowest and most competitive in the region.

“However, the real risk lies with the citizens of Republika Srpska, because non-payment leads to potential future crises. If the debt is used as a political pressure tool, there is a real danger that it will be settled using funds belonging to them, as has happened previously with Viaduct. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a system of connected vessels where no decision affects only one entity. Any attempt to provoke a crisis has consequences for others as well,” Ustamujic said.

He added that it is high time to end blackmail politics and to prioritize responsible governance, honoring obligations, and a shared future in which citizens are not victims of political calculations, leaving future generations to pay for today’s irresponsibility.

Becarevic stressed that nothing can be changed because Gazprom treats this debt as a commercial obligation of Energoinvest, while Energoinvest considers it state debt. Therefore, the debt is not being paid by the company but by end consumers.