Investors eye concessions in Republic of Srpska for 2,000 MW in solar power

Investors have expressed interest in concessions for the construction of solar power plants with a total capacity of 2,072 MW in the Republic of Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Contracts have so far been signed for 856 MW.

Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska Petar Đokić said about 60% of electricity in the entity currently comes from fossil fuels, with renewable energy sources accounting for the remainder. But he is convinced the energy mix would change a lot over the next few years, local media reported.

Investors have expressed interest in getting concessions for installing solar power plants with an overall capacity of 2,072 MW, out of which contracts have been signed for 856 MW, Đokić said at the Balkan Solar Summit. The event was held in Banja Luka, the capital city of the Republic of Srpska.

Đokić: The contracts were signed with investors that will certainly build the power plants

He claimed they are reliable partners that would certainly install the power plants and that the remaining projects would be assessed before signing the concessions.

The last concession approved by the Government of the Republic of Srpska was for a 500 MW photovoltaic project, the biggest in the country.

Đokić said the idea is to bring solar energy closer to households with the government’s programs for energy efficiency and the generation of electricity for self-consumption.

The procedure for concessions lasts at least six months

Under optimal conditions, it takes six months to get a concession for the construction of a solar power plant in the Republic of Srpska, Capital.ba reports. The investor must first submit an initiative to the government alongside a feasibility study, after which the Ministry of Energy and Mining takes it into consideration

When cleared, the ministry issues a recommendation, and if it is adopted, it can launch a public call.

The World Bank is interested in financing solar power projects

President of the Srpska’s Concession Commission Maja Šuput said that after the public call, the panel can propose to the government to sign the contract with the investor, or not to sign one.

Solar power was also the topic of a meeting between Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Radovan Višković and the World Bank’s Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro Christopher Sheldon.

The representatives of the World Bank expressed interest in supporting projects in the energy sector, especially the installation of solar panels, the entity government said.