BiH’s electricity imports double to record EUR 321.6 million in 2025

Electricity imports into Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025 reached a record BAM 629 million (EUR 321.6 million), twice as much as the previous year. The surge was due to production halts caused by coal shortages, power plant maintenance, and changes in electricity prices. On the other hand, exports were significantly higher than in 2024, but still well below the record levels seen in previous years.

The exact value of electricity imports into BiH in 2025 was BAM 628,956,500, compared with BAM 312,612,000 in 2024, Capital reported, citing data from the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH.

The largest share of imported electricity in 2025 came from Croatia (BAM 267 million) and Slovenia (BAM 108 million), followed by Albania (BAM 89 million) and Serbia (BAM 86.7 million). 

The largest share of imported electricity in 2025 came from Croatia

In previous years, electricity imports fluctuated but remained significantly lower than in 2025, amounting to BAM 215.9 million in 2023, BAM 393.5 million in 2022, BAM 218.8 million in 2021, and just BAM 96.3 million in 2020.

In May and June 2025, two thermal power plants, which together produce 65% of electricity in the Republic of Srpska, one of the two political entities of BiH, were offline simultaneously for about 10 days during maintenance. Due to the overlapping overhauls of the two facilities, Ugljevik and Gacko, state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) was forced to import large quantities of electricity, Capital noted.

The planned annual overhaul at Ugljevik was carried out from April 21 to June 5, lasting 45 days, while the major, five-year overhaul at Gacko took 70 days, from May 24 to August 2.

Both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina are struggling with coal shortages

In addition, Ugljevik halted production several times last year due to a lack of coal.

Coal shortages, coupled with outdated thermal power plants, are also a problem in the other BiH entity, the Federation of BiH, where electricity production has decreased by almost a quarter over the past four years, Capital recalled.

Electricity exports also rose, but 2022 and 2023 remain record years

When it comes to exports, Bosnia and Herzegovina sold electricity worth BAM 868.8 million in 2025, compared with BAM 669.8 million the previous year.

In 2022 and 2023, the country posted record electricity exports, over BAM 1 billion each. In 2022, the value of exports was 1.056 billion, and the following year, BAM 1.075 billion.