ĐOKIĆ: GOVERNMENT WILL HELP UGLJEVIK THERMAL POWER PLANT

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 1 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić said that the Government is prepared to step in and cover the obligations owed to a company from Slovenia if the Ugljevik Coal Mine and Thermal Power Plant /RiTE Ugljevik/ and the Power Utility of Republika Srpska fail to meet them.

"We want to protect RiTE Ugljevik so that it can operate with as few difficulties as possible," Đokić said at a press conference following a special session of the Republika Srpska Government dedicated to the situation in this company.

He emphasized that this strengthens the role of the Republika Srpska Government in the negotiations, noting that talks with the Slovenian company are yet to continue.

Đokić said he expects the proposal to be acceptable.

"The value of the dispute with the Slovenians is EUR 770 million. The dispute was concluded with arbitral decisions, creating an obligation of EUR 67 million in principal, plus EUR 65 million in damages for failure to deliver electricity. We will negotiate the amount of EUR 67 million in interest. EUR 30 million will be written off, leaving EUR 37 million to be settled," Đokić said.

The Republika Srpska News Agency - SRNA is broadcasting the press conference live on its YouTube channel.