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NEUM, April 17 (FENA) - The 5th Energy Summit in Neum, which will be the meeting place for more than 650 participants and decision makers in the energy sector reform in BiH for the next three days, opened on Tuesday with introductory remarks by representatives of the international community and the entity prime ministers.
The energy transition, the status and challenges of the market in energy transition, the biomass potential in BiH, the reform of the incentive system for renewable energy sources and civil energy, the importance of energy efficiency, the perspective of the gas sector in energy transition, and the role of the media in the process of energy transition are the topics of this year's Neum Energy Summit.
"The United States will support BiH in the process of reforming the energy sector because it is important for a better and secure future," said the US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson in his address, stressing that the energy sector in BiH has incredible potential, and that the country is already producing more electricity than it consumes.
Noting that BiH citizens are paying one of the largest gas prices in Europe, Ambassador Nelson reminded that BiH is still under EU sanctions, and that reform is necessary.
"Reforms will help BiH remain a country that exports electricity, to increase its energy security and to reduce the price of energy for its consumers," Nelson concluded.
German Ambassador to BiH Christiane Hohmann also underlined that energy transition is a key topic, as well as giving up fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. "The important thing is the link between experts and politics, and this is important for citizens, because it allows them great savings," said Ambassador Hohmann.
Ambassador of the United Kingdom to BiH Matthew Field congratulated the BiH authorities on the adoption of the Framework Energy Strategy in BiH, and stressed that the summit should be used for a new reform momentum in the energy sector in BiH.
He stressed that the necessary reforms include: adoption of laws at the state level on regulator, transmission and market of electricity and natural gas, adoption of amendments to the laws on energy efficiency in both entities in accordance with the recommendations of the energy community, appointment of the management of Elektroprijenos in a transparent and lawful manner, and reforms in other fields, including in the renewable energy sector.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Khaldoun Sinno said that, at the meeting of energy ministers in Montenegro, the ministers of the countries of the region had pledged to do their job to meet the EU conditions and to increase energy efficiency.
"Cooperation of all levels of government is needed, and we invite all participants today to work together and for this to become the number one priority in BiH," Sinno concluded.
The organizers of the 5th Energy Summit are USAID project ‘Investing in the Energy Sector’ (EIA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through the projects "Stimulating Renewable Energy in BiH" and "Stimulating Energy Efficiency in BiH" and the British Embassy Sarajevo with the patronage of the Ministry Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, the State Regulatory Commission for Electricity, the Regulatory Commission for Energy in the FBiH and the Energy Regulatory Commission of RS, the organizers stated.
(FENA) S. R.
