prijava
NEUM, April 26 (FENA) - The Energy Summit 2023 will be held in Neum from April 26 to 28, where the impact of climate change, the BiH energy sector between the transition and the energy crisis, the underutilization of renewable energy resources and other current topics will be discussed.
At the opening of the conference, the US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Michael Murphy said that important progress has been made since 2015 when the first energy summit was organized, but that the work is far from over.
“We will send an urgent message to the legislators in BiH: time is running out for BiH to choose the right direction for its energy future. That direction is obvious, and it is the establishment of an energy sector that is integrated and in line with the EU, protected from the threat of cyber attacks and that has switched to the use of green energy sources,” said Murphy.
He added that legislators at all levels should meet and agree on "meaningful legislation, especially at the state level, to solve important issues."
“We are a reliable partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are dedicated to supporting the transition of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards a greener and safer future. I am sorry to say that it is shameful that some of the experts have been instructed by politicians not to join us this year. This decision is strictly political and in the narrowest sense, it only harms the citizens of this country, regardless of where they live,” the American Ambassador commented on the fact that no one from the RS came to the Neum Summit, including Staša Košarac, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, which is the sponsor of the Summit.
Great Britain's Ambassador to BiH, Julian Reilly, said that BiH is rich in hydro, solar and wind potential, and in the energy transition, it has an excellent opportunity to develop into an economy based on renewable and clean energy sources.
At the opening of the Summit, the Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, addressed and said that the energy transition is an unavoidable topic and task for the local authorities.
“We are aware that the comprehensive transition of the energy system is a demanding, long-term and complex process, the implementation of which is challenging for small countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are aware that there is no recipe for transitions and that we must define our own vision and strategic decisions when it comes to the development of the energy sector. Only through effective transformation can we ensure the stability and security of the same, and that is our obligation from various agreements,” she said.
Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Johann Sattler pointed out that when it comes to energy, the most successful economies in the coming decades will be those that are clean, green and sustainable.
“100 billion euros will be invested every year, that's a lot of money, but it also means investments and a lot of jobs. We are here as a partner to the region in a green transition that will only be successful if we act together as a team.
The climate and these issues do not end at national borders, we want BiH and the rest of the region to join us with all goals and measures,” said Sattler.
He reminded that 18 thermal power plants operate in the Western Balkans, which produce more CO2 than all 250 thermal power plants operating in the countries of the European Union.
German Ambassador to BiH Thomas Fitschen said that the energy transition is a global topic and that it is high on the agenda of many countries.
(FENA) A. B.
