Five days of discussion on energy transition and responding to climate
change challenges
(Sarajevo, 26 September 2023) Organized by the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH
and numerous domestic and international partners and institutions, the first
„Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week SECW2023″ was officially opened today, bringing
together over 1000 experts from all over the world. The goal of the week is clear:
how to accelerate key energy reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and how to offer
adequate responses to the challenges of climate change.
„Energy is one of the more important sectors we must discuss in the coming
period. All the experts who are here with us today can point to that
importance. We are preparing to adopt a complete legal framework in the field
of energy and decarbonization“ said Vedran Lakić, Federal Minister of Energy,
Mining and Industry.
„We constantly follow initiatives coming from businesspeople. The year 2050 is
not far away, and we need to prepare for all the reforms ahead of us. It is in our
interest to talk through such conferences about the importance of the transition
of the energy sector and the implementation of every step on that path“, explained
Mirsad Jašarspahić, Vice President of the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of BiH,
which is the organizer of the Week.
Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a period of adopting important and complex decisions about
the future of the energy sector, guided in accordance with global declarations and
regulations that take into account all aspects of energy needs and environmental protection.
„Major changes are taking place in the energy sector around the world. Bosnia and
Herzegovina is on the path of energy transition, but what must first be
established are legal frameworks that would enable more efficient implementation of this
transition. Changes are difficult, but these changes within the legal system are
the hardest, but also necessary for progress“, underlined Courtney Chubb, Director of the
USAID Mission in BiH.
„The need for energy changes has never been clearer than today. No country on
our continent is fully protected from the consequences of climate change if we do not take adequate steps. Reform
of the energy sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina has not only state but also
regional importance“, said Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in
BiH.
„I am proud of my country, which is the partner country of this important conference
that is taking place at the right moment. Norway can help a lot in the development
of clean energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina because we are one of the leading countries in the transition to clean energy“, said Olav Reinertsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, adding that it is high time to form a large global coalition that will respond to all climate change challenges.
„This is not the first time we have engaged in the field of energy in BiH. Our country
will, through the work of 20 experts during the week, present all expertise in the development
of the energy sector. My country went through the same reform 20 years ago and
we know what kind of path that is“, said Josef Zrzavecký, on behalf of the Office of the Ambassador
of the Czech Embassy.
The Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week is programmatically and financially supported by partner countries the Czech Republic and Norway, the British and Swedish Embassies in BiH,
the World Energy Council, the Government of the United States USAID
EPA Project, UNDP, GIZ, UNECE, IRENA, EBRD, the World Bank, the EU4Energy
project, SEI, PIN, FIC, EPBiH, EPHZHB, Procredit Bank, NLB Bank, Cement plants Lukavac and
Kakanj, KFW, PRANA, GS-Machine Factory Travnik, RCB Nanotechnologies,
Thermoflux, Messer, Porsche Sarajevo, Mega Tel, Hitel Hills, GEIA, People in
Need, and the Faculty of Economics, Mechanical Engineering and Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of
Sarajevo.
Media partners: Business Magazin, Energetski portal, Akta.ba, RSG radio, FENA,
m-kvadrat, Antena Sarajevo, Manager.ba and Pit.ba.
More information about the agenda, participants and partners on the official SECW website http://www.secw.ba/
