Preparations for the investor agreement covering Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Southern Gas Interconnection are entering their final phase, bringing the long-planned pipeline project closer to implementation, according to Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Vedran Lakić.
Minister Lakić described the Southern Gas Interconnection as a strategic investment for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), stressing that he sees no realistic alternative to its development. He noted that recent legislative amendments have expanded the scope of the project by adding several new sections, including the Kladanj–Tuzla pipeline route.
According to the minister, the agreement with the selected investor is expected to be signed once the remaining preparatory steps are completed. However, before construction can begin, authorities must still resolve outstanding state property issues and finalize an updated feasibility study that reflects the revised project design.
Minister Lakić added that the main agreement will be concluded first, while any remaining technical or administrative issues could be addressed later through additional contract annexes.
He also highlighted the importance of the planned three gas-fired power plants, arguing that they will generate sufficient gas demand to support the long-term economic viability of the project. According to him, higher consumption levels should improve the commercial feasibility of the pipeline and help enable more competitive gas prices for both households and industry.
Commenting on the European Union’s plan to phase out Russian natural gas imports from 1 January 2028, Minister Lakić stated that the proposed measures relate to the origin of the gas, rather than the infrastructure used for its transportation.
