Bosnia and Herzegovina increased electricity production in the first half of 2026 despite a sharp decline in thermal output, as stronger hydrology and new renewable capacity compensated for persistent coal-supply and plant-availability problems.
Total production reached 7.44 TWh, an increase of 3.5% compared with the first half of 2025. Domestic consumption remained broadly stable at 6.15 TWh, allowing the country to preserve a sizeable export position.
Thermal generation fell by 16.9% to 3.07 TWh, reflecting coal shortages and lower availability at several generating units. Hydropower moved in the opposite direction, increasing by 32.4% to 3.13 TWh. Hydro therefore produced slightly more electricity than the country’s thermal fleet during the period, an unusual reversal for a system historically dependent on lignite.
Generation from transmission-connected wind and solar projects rose by 16.1% to 0.64 TWh as additional facilities entered operation. Renewable expansion remains comparatively modest in absolute terms, but it is beginning to reduce the system’s dependence on ageing coal assets.
Electricity exports totalled 3.11 TWh, down 19%, while imports declined more sharply by 38.6% to 1.67 TWh. The resulting net export surplus increased by 28.6% to 1.44 TWh.
Financial performance was less impressive than the physical balance. Export revenue fell by 16.2% to €168 million, while import expenditure declined by 47.1% to €146 million. Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a positive electricity trade balance of €23 million, but this was 52.7% below the previous year’s level.
The divergence between physical exports and financial returns reflects weaker average sales values, the timing of exports and the continued need to import electricity during expensive hours. A hydro-rich system can show a substantial annual export surplus while still purchasing power during periods of low river flow, plant outages or high domestic load.
The first-half figures demonstrate the value of hydrology but also the fragility of the result. A 32.4% increase in hydro generation compensated for the decline in coal output, yet hydrological conditions cannot provide a permanent substitute for thermal rehabilitation, wind and solar investment, storage and stronger regional connections.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a valuable exporter into Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia, but the quality of that position increasingly depends on when electricity is available. Flexible hydro output sold during evening scarcity carries far greater system and market value than undifferentiated baseload exports.
