THEMATIC GOVERNMENT SESSION ON STATE OF POWER SECTOR TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT SECTOR

SRBAC, NOVEMBER 7 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić announced today that a thematic session of the Government of Srpska dedicated to the state of the power sector will be held, marking the beginning of management improvements in that sector, and that short-, medium-, and long-term plans will be adopted, similar to what was done with Šume Srpske /Forests of Srpska/.

"This is an enormous resource of ours. If we add to that the projects currently underway in Bileća, Berkovići, and Nevesinje, which should be completed by 2027, we will have capacities that will provide additional national electricity quantities. It is essential that these involve renewable energy sources," Minić told reporters in Srbac.

He stressed the importance of Republika Srpska participating in the development of solar energy capacities to establish diverse methods for supplying the national electricity system.

Minić said that responsibility for the current situation at the Ugljevik Mine and Thermal Power Plant /RiTE/ will be determined, noting that the miners are the least to blame for the existing problems.

"We cannot say that the miners are to blame for anything. Responsibility must start with those in the decision-making chain and hierarchy who led to the current situation. Changes need to be made," Minić stated.

He also expressed satisfaction that RiTE workers have returned to the mine and resumed work to ensure coal supply for the startup and operation of the thermal power plant.