German VE Grebak plans to build windfarm in Nevesinje area

Republika Srpska Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining Petar Đokić lent his support to an initiative to build a windfarm in eastern Herzegovina. Đokić told representatives of the German company VE Grebak that the area is suitable because it has the right climate conditions for wind power generation.

The windfarm which the Grebak company is planning to build will have 49.5 MW of installed capacity and will produce about 130 GW of electricity a year. The total investment is estimated to stand at EUR 65 million and the project should be completed within the next two years.

Đokić met with VE Grebak and Nevesinje municipal officials in Banja Luka. He told them that the construction of the windfarm should be viewed as a development opportunity for the municipality, adding that the investment is significant not only because of new jobs but also because the necessary infrastructure will be built along with the windfarm.

VE Grebak company officials said that they have extensive experience in building wind-powered energy facilities and added that the they plan to invest technical resources along with finances in the project.

CEO of the VE Grebak local branch in Mostar Miralem Čampara said that the construction of the windfarm will stimulate the entire local economy in Nevesinje because local companies will be engaged on the project.

VE Grebak head office spokesman Erich Preisler and local branch official Admir Rahmić made a presentation of the construction plans during the meeting with Minister Đokić.

The Grebak windfarm is the second wind power project in the Nevesinje municipality. The British company Kermas is investing an estimated EUR 75 million in the construction of a wind power facility on the Trusina mountain which is due to become operational by the end of this year.

Both state entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina have drawn up action plans with the aim of increasing the amount of power generated by windfarms. The BiH Federation plans to reach the level of 43 MW of installed capacity while the Republika Srpska plans to reach 100 MW by the year 2020.