Radioactive waste disposal project sparks dispute between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

Tensions have risen between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia regarding the environmental impact assessment for a proposed radioactive waste disposal center near Trgovska Gora in the municipality of Dvor.

During the first session of the Advisory Expert Commission, representatives from the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology criticized the process, claiming the invitation to the Bosnian delegation was pro forma. Officials stated they were given only three working days to prepare and had not received necessary materials or the commission's composition. They specifically challenged the assessment that cross-border environmental impacts would be “negligible or very small.”

Croatia has limited the Bosnian delegation to only two representatives, citing “limited spatial and organizational conditions.” The project is being managed by the Fund for Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Disposal of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant. While Croatian authorities claim the limited attendance is to ensure transparency, local groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina have expressed concerns over the adequacy of the consultation process.