BiH town Gacko opposes 200 MW solar power project on agricultural land

Local parliament in Gacko in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew support for a photovoltaic project on more than 200 hectares of publicly owned agricultural land. Municipal chief Vukota Govedarica expressed confidence that another location could be found – rocky terrain is dominant in the area.

A group of residents opposing a proposed solar power plant estimated at 200 MW near the town of Gacko have submitted a petition to the municipal parliament. They argue that the facility mustn’t be built on agricultural land. The local assembly voted unanimously in support of the community.

In addition, head of the municipality Vukota Govedarica said the investment valued at BAM 170 million (EUR 86.9 million) involved contradictions and secrecy. In his view, it is doubtful that SolarWin, the firm interested in the project can build the solar power plant. Govedarica stressed that it has no employees.

Conversely, he said investors are welcome and asserted confidence that the local authority would find non-agricultural land for the endeavor in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska. It is one of the two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other one being the Federation of BiH.

Fifth of Gacko residents signed petition

The petition contains 1,700 signatures. The Gacko municipality in the country’s south had less than 9,000 inhabitants at the time of the last census, in 2013.

People from the said initiative and some local political representatives suggested moving the project to rocky terrain, which dominates the area in eastern Herzegovina.

The current location is on entity-owned land on both sides of the road toward Bileća, to the south. Residents of Cernica, Stepen and other affected villages have highlighted the significance of cattle farming around Gacko and the production of half a million liters of milk per year. Some locals use the designated zone for grazing.

Concession would last 50 years

SolarWin, based in Banja Luka, the capital city of the Republic of Srpska, was the only business that submitted a bid for the project. The concession would last 50 years.

The Ministry of Energy and Mining noted that the Municipality of Gacko expressed support before for the proposed solar power plant.

Of note, citizens and activists earlier managed to block two wind park projects in BiH. Concerns for the environment and agriculture have also pitted the local population against a string of controversial investments in renewables in Bulgaria over the past few years.