Bosnia and Herzegovina mining sector undergoes transition and modernization

The mining sector in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is undergoing significant changes involving both closures and modernization. In Zenica, Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Vedran Lakić confirmed that unpaid wages for employees at the RMU Zenica brown coal mine have been settled. Following this, the focus will shift to the displacement of workers through a 'Just Transition Project' involving the World Bank, trade unions, and Elektroprivreda BiH. This project aims to provide retraining, re-qualification, and support for entrepreneurship as the mine moves toward closure.

In contrast, the RMU Banovići mine has received a 15 million KM investment for new machinery, including dump trucks, tipper trucks, and an excavator. This equipment, funded through government recapitalization, is intended to increase production and improve worker safety. The Federation Government has allocated 212 million KM to support the mining sector, with an additional 164 million KM in World Bank loans dedicated to the broader energy transition process. Officials emphasized that while the transition to new energy sources is underway, coal mines will remain vital to the energy system for years to come.