Hungarian MAVIR offers help to Bosnia and Herzegovina in organizing electricity market

Hungarian transmission system operator MAVIR has offered help to Bosnia and Herzegovina with the institutional organization of the energy sector, especially in organizing the electricity market.

MAVIR CEO Kamilla Csomai has recently visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and discussed cooperation in electricity supply and the implementation of European Union directives with local officials. The meetings that she and her delegation had in Sarajevo and Banjaluka also discussed the establishing of an electricity exchange in BiH.

Csomai met in Sarajevo with Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mirko Šarović to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. She offered help with the institutional organization of the energy sector, especially in organizing the electricity market.

Šarović said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the process of deciding on the best possible model for an electric energy market.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations said that Šarović and Csomai concluded that the Hungarian electricity exchange (HUPEX) could become a partner in the process of establishing an electricity exchange in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Csomai discussed the same issues in Banjaluka with Republic of Srpska (RS) Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining Petar Đokić.

Đokić said at the meeting that the energy sector falls within the competencies of the two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that the RS is working on harmonizing its laws with the obligations under the agreement on the Energy Community through reforms of the energy sector and the implementation of energy packets.

He recalled that the RS adopted a Strartegy of Development for the Energy Sector to the year 2030 in 2011.

The Minister said that the RS is open to cooperation with Hungarian electricity companies, especially in exchanging experience in opening up the market and the use of European Union funds.

Elektroprivreda RS power company CEO Željko Kovačević said at the meeting that the RS electricity company is already part of the EU in terms of its activities and traits because it respect all standards, takes part in relevant EU associations and exports electricity.

He said that the experience of Hungarian electricity producers and suppliers and that country’s electricity market are greatly significant to the development of the energy sector in the Republic of Srpska.