The location for one hydropower plant (HPP) to be jointly built by Republika Srpska and Serbia could be determined in late June, according to Petar Đokić, energy minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Serb entity.

Đokić was speaking at the Jahorina Economic Forum, where the entity’s president, Milorad Dodik, met with Serbia’s prime minister, Ana Brnabić. Following the meeting, the Bosnian media reported that the talks covered the possibility of jointly investing in the construction of two hydropower plants, each with a capacity of 40 MW, that would be owned by the two governments.

For his part, Đokić also said that he hopes a final deal will be reached soon to enable the launch of construction on the Buk Bijela hydropower plant in the summer.

“I hope certain administrative steps, which we must clear in the process, will not stop us in our tracks and avert the launch during the summer months. The Government of Republika Srpska has done everything in its power for the construction of this capital energy facility to begin,” Đokić said.

According to minister, Buk Bijela is not the only HPP to be built, as RS plans the construction of three more HPPs which will generate up to 100 MWh of electricity, with the Upper Drina project to be given priority.

Đokić said earlier that the construction of the 93.52 MW Buk Bijela is expected to start this year, under an investment estimated at EUR 200 million.