Republika Srpska’s Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology blocked the process of approving the environmental impact study for small hydropower plants on Hrčavka river in the Sutjeska National Park, because the protected area’s spatial plan must be approved first, Energetika.ba portal said, citing Fena agency.

Nataša Crnković from the Center for Environment in Banjaluka, who heads the Battle for Sutjeska (Bitka za Sutjesku) campaign against the construction of hydro plants, said the spatial plan had already been withdrawn twice from the procedure in the entity’s parliament, being clearly controversial exactly because of the planned power facilities. Soon after the district court in Banjaluka ruled in favor of the Center for Environment, the ministry decided to block the procedure.