Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country privileged by nature when it comes to drinking water supplies per Capita. We can still drink tap water and this is a privilege that we must all be aware of. Western Europe has not enjoyed that privilege for a long time.
Water is increasingly called “blue gold” and by the end of this century it will probably take on the strategic importance of oil today.
Our authorities, instead of preserving what nature has kindly given us, have started the systematic destruction of rivers. They share permits to build mini hydropower plants like there is no tomorrow. As if our rivers are their private property.
Everyone knows the story of the brave women of Kruščica and their fight for the river and drinking water. They were on duty, day and night, for more than 500 days, in the rain and snow, and suffered physical and mental abuse, but still succeeded. It was neither easy nor simple. Hydropower lobbies do not give up quick profits easily. The greedy authorities extended the concession seven times. In addition to the duty and the physical defence of the river, the legal struggle was also important, which the brave women of Kruščica eventually won.
They were and remain the inspiration for all subsequent actions to preserve our rivers, a natural wealth that belongs to all of us, not just the chosen power figures.
A few days ago, two building permits for the construction of mini hydropower plants on the Neretvica River were revoked. Remember, these are the people who came up with a “blood or water” banner, ready to defend their river, with their lives. The revocation of the two building permits is a victory, but it is not the end in preserving the Neretvica River. The mayor of Konjic publicly stood by the investor, who had previously been issued concessions for the construction of 15 mini hydropower plants on a length of 34 kilometres along the Neretvica River. This literally means that the Neretvica would go from one pipe to another. There would be nothing left for humans or animals, and the living river Neretvica, which can be drunk, would become effectively dead.
A little further south, the story is even sadder. For a couple of years now, activists have been fighting to preserve the natural phenomenon of the Buna canals. There, the investor also planned to build a mini hydropower plant. Activists are fighting with legal methods. Several permits obtained by the investor have been revoked, but they still do not give up. The Buna canals have been a protected area of nature since 1970, and despite that, the city authorities are not doing anything to protect them. The mayor does not even want to politely meet his fellow citizens, who are defending their river and our natural wealth. The Buna canals can and should become one of the main tourist attractions of Mostar, instead of donating them to the hydropower lobby to destroy them forever.
Various groups of people in BiH are becoming increasingly vocal in their demands for the preservation of our rivers. Regardless of the verdicts on the annulment of various issued permits, the ministries continue to illegally approve the construction of small hydropower plants.
This is because it is a matter of quick and easy earnings, for a small circle of investors related or politically connected to the governing structures. Thanks to generous incentives, which are paid by citizens and companies with their electricity bills, the construction of small hydropower plants in BiH is a risk-free business that earns great money.
Hydropower is labelled as clean energy, but it is already clear to everyone that the construction of a mini hydropower plant is irreversibly destroying the environment and biodiversity.
In November 2019, BiH signed the International Declaration for the Protection of the Western Balkans Rivers, committing itself to a moratorium on the construction of small hydropower plants. The declaration also calls for the immediate abolition of all types of public incentives for the production of energy from small hydropower plants and that, with the support of the European Union, investments in truly renewable and sustainable energy sources are encouraged.
It is known that BiH does not even need electricity from mini hydro power plants, because we already export a third of the generated electricity.
After our companies were devastated by post-war plunder and privatization, it was the turn for natural resources to be privatized. Our kleptocratic rulers have the priority of satisfying the personal, party and lobby interests with which they are connected. The well-being of the community and society as a whole is a topic for them only during the month of the election campaign, if even then.
We will remember the summer of 2021 by the long drought, extremely high temperatures, heat waves, struggles for the freedom of rivers, and also fires.
And while Europe plans to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. and in a way to protect the nature, health and quality of life of citizens, we are not able to put out the fires that are raging from Tomislavgrad to Neum. In a country rich in water, the rulers do not want to help the people and put out the fire.
2021. is not an election year , but 2022. will be, and then remember that while Herzegovina was burning, a member of the Presidency of BiH was combing his hair. And it doesn’t matter if you are his voters or not. You must be the voters of his best friends. The principle is the same, everything else is nuanced.
