Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) spent about €321.5 million on electricity imports in 2025, setting a new record and doubling the bill from the previous year. The sharp increase was driven by a combination of reduced domestic output, coal supply problems, and extended maintenance outages at key thermal power plants.
Croatia was the largest supplier, accounting for electricity purchases worth approximately €136.5 million. Slovenia followed with roughly €55.2 million, while Albania and Serbia supplied electricity valued at around €45.5 million and €44.3 million, respectively.
Earlier years illustrate how exceptional 2025 was. Import spending stood at about €110.5 million in 2023, roughly €201 million in 2022, and hovered near €112 million in 2021. In 2020, the country imported electricity worth only around €49 million.
A major factor behind last year’s surge was the simultaneous shutdown of two large coal-fired plants in the Republic of Srpska (RS). During May and June, TPPs Ugljevik and Gacko, which together account for around 65 % of electricity generation in RS, were offline at the same time for roughly ten days. TPP Ugljevik underwent its regular annual overhaul between 21 April and 5 June, while TPP Gacko was shut from 24 May to 2 August for a major five-year maintenance cycle. These overlapping outages forced the state-owned power utility ERS to rely heavily on imported electricity. Production at TPP Ugljevik was also interrupted several times during the year due to coal shortages.
Coal supply problems are not limited to one part of the country. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has also been struggling with insufficient coal and aging thermal infrastructure, leading to a decline in electricity generation of nearly 25 % over the past four years.
Electricity exports increased in 2025 as well, but remained below earlier peaks. BiH sold electricity worth about €444 million last year, compared to roughly €342.5 million in 2024. The strongest export performance was recorded in 2022 and 2023, when annual electricity exports exceeded €540 million and €550 million, respectively.
