Turkish EPC contractor Girişim Elektrik and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-owned power utility, Elektroprivreda BiH, have signed a contract for building the Gračanica 1 and 2 photovoltaic plants.
The BAM 53 million (EUR 27.1 million) contract for the construction of the solar power plants was signed by Sanel Buljubašić, Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) CEO, Harun Gadžo, Executive Director for Capital Investments at EPBiH, and Can Keleş, Director for International Business Development at Girişim Elektrik.
The first utility-scale solar PV project in EPBiH’s investment portfolio, the 50 MWp facility will be built on a former external spoil heap at the Gračanica coal mine in the Bugojno municipality.
The Turkish firm has already installed solar power plants at coal mining sites in the region, specifically in North Macedonia.
Buljubašić: A key step in a long-term energy transition strategy
The contracted scope covers engineering, procurement, equipment delivery, construction, testing, commissioning, and maintenance over the contractual period.
Sanel Buljubašić stressed that with this signing, EPBiH takes a major step forward in executing its long-term energy transition strategy and expanding the share of renewables in its electricity generation portfolio.
The project will reduce the company’s carbon footprint and align it with European energy and climate trends, he added.
“The project brings particular value as it combines the goals of a just energy transition, sustainable development, and responsible land management, given that the plants will be constructed on land previously used for mining activities. This puts reclaimed land to a new use, transforming it into a site for clean energy production,” Buljubašić said.
Modernizing EPBiH’s generation fleet
Executive Director for Capital Investments Harun Gadžo noted that beyond increasing the renewables share in EPBiH’s overall electricity output, the Gračanica 1 and 2 solar PV project will bolster energy security, cut reliance on fossil fuels, and increase the resilience and long-term sustainability of the power system.
It also represents a significant milestone toward modernizing EPBiH’s generation capacity, he added.
Financing for the project was secured in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and UniCredit Bank d.d. Mostar.
PBiH launched the EPC tender in November 2023. A concession to build the facilities was granted in mid-2012.
