BOSNIA
NOT USING ITS CHEAPEST ENERGY SOURCE
Windmill under Velez will provide
electricity to entire Mostar Numerous European
countries are already using wind energy. Windmills
are one of the least expensive electricity providers.
Windmills are heavily used in Germany, Denmark,
and Spain. This source of electric energy has
gained a lot of attention in Bosnia and Herzegovina
and has become a focus of intensive research
recently.
Bosnian experts in the field of
electricity view the wind as an important source
for providing electricity. Due to the presence
of strong winds, most conducive location for
windmills is in southern region of Bosnia (known
as Herzegovina). Other regions of the country
where windmill research was conducted are Podvelez,
Kupres, Blidinje, Ravno, and Tomislav Grad.
Velez plateau
Experts view plateau below Velez
mountain, an area that spans around 150 square
kilometers near city of Mostar, as most suited
for development of windmill plants. Even though
there are numerous interested investors, windmill
development project has not yet begun.
“A study was conducted of an area,
size around thirty square kilometers, for three
energy fields that could produce around 60MW,
and data has been gathered and prepared for
potential investors. With windmill plant of
this capacity, the entire city of Mostar could
be provided with electricity, and the entire
project could be valued around 68 million Euros.
Project of this value needs to be commenced
as soon as possible, primarily because of the
employment impact, as well as the revenue and
the development of the entire region” - said
Dr. Mehmed Behmen, Strojar College in Mostar.
Engineer Ilija Kozulj believes
that if there is a continued world dependency
on coal, oil and natural gas, at the current
pace, there will be a shortage of these natural
resources in the next fifty years.
“Regulations concerning concessions
do not directly address the issue of wind energy
and it is an issue that needs to be addressed
in an upcoming period. Government officials
at the highest level need to be engaged inregards
to development of a program to begin utilizing
wind for electricity generation” - expressed
Mostar’s mayor, Ljubo Beslic.
Austrian investors, that have
shown interest in investing in the windmill
development project, will have to show patience
until the rules regarding the concessions are
approved and finalized.
Ecologic association “Bura” from
Mostar is one of the most active ecological
associations in Herzegovina. This association,
in the past few months, has organized and conducted
a few round-table meetings dealing with production
of electricity using windmills. Experts attending
the meetings were stressing the negative ecological
impacts that would be created with continued
development of hydro-electric plants on Neretva
river, as well as in Herzegovina. “Bura” association
president Drazen Rosic stressed the importance
of developing windmill plants to produce electricity.
Against development
of hydro-electric plants
“According to a world-wide research,
especially in Herzegovina region, it has been
concluded that wind could be used a invaluable
resource for providing electricity, and it would
be a great mistake not to utilize its capability.
For whatever reason(s), the country is hesitant
to use it a source for providing electricity.”
- said Rosic.
Marinko Dalmatin, president of
ecological association “Lijepa Nasa”, holds
the same opinion as his counterpart, Rosic.
He asserts that new energy sources must be utilized
in order to preserve the nature, and the advantages
and disadvantages of each source should be discussed
in upcoming meetings.
Even while discussions are being
held regarding the advantages of windmill plants
over thermal plants, hydro-electric plants,
and nuclear plants, eastern and western Herzegovina
has seen a development of few additional hydro-electric
plants. This illustrates that hydro-electric
plants are seen as a clear favorite to any other
alternatives.
Flooding of Popovo
Field
According to the experts present
at some of roundtable meetings, the hydro-electric
plants currently being constructed in Herzegovina
could negatively impact our lives. Hydro-electric
plant being developed in eastern Herzegovina,
Gornji Horizons, was singled out as a plant
that, according to the expets, could alter the
water supply in Neretva region. Some experts
are even stating that the construction of the
previously mentioned plant could alter the climate
in the region.
Flooding of vast fertile fields
of Popovo field has become a common occurrence,
due to development of Gornji Horizons, according
to the experts in Mostar. However, the warnings
issued by the area experts are not taken seriously,
as the development of hydro-electric plants
is in full-force in Herzegovina region. Windmill
plants, along with potential Austrian investors,
will have to show patience and wait. When it
is all said and done, Herzegovina may remain
without windmill plants.
Kyoto agreement in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kyoto agreement is mandating that
we look for alternative solutions for providing
electricity, which should be ecologically acceptable.
School curriculums should be modified to include
a general overview of the providing electricity
using the natural renewable resources - said
Kozulj, as well as the country’s government
should move towards developing regulations to
encourage domestic and foreign investments in
these projects.
One fact is for sure, that all
interested parties agree. Better yet, the parties
that understand the problem stress that the
windmill plant project(s) need to expedited;
however, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as in many
other aspects, is slow to reform, and many legal
barriers are still standing in the way.
Investments in other
countries
Data illustrates that around 30-40%
of investment in new power plants, in the next
15 years, will be allocated to development of
windmill plants. Some countries, like Spain,
are stimulating development of windmill plants
through incentives. Providing electricity through
windmill plants has increased the standard of
living; in addition, the impact on preserving
the nature is invaluable.
