Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterized as a country with very high energy inefficiency within the building, industry and service sector. The average energy consumption of a public building in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is three times higher than the EU average, categorizing them as completely energy inefficient buildings. More than 70% of public buildings in BiH were built more than 30 years ago without much regard for their energy efficiency (EE). In addition, over 80% of public sector buildings are currently using fossil fuels or district heating systems which are predominantly coal-based.
Slow progress in improving energy efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina is caused by the non-harmonized laws and the lack of by-laws in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources as well as the lack of financing mechanisms.
At the same time, Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the most significant energy conservation potentials in the region and could base its further mid-term economic development and generation of new employment on EE improvement measures in the public and residential sector. In the public sector in recent period there has been an increase in investments in EE measures and renewable energy sources on public building sector, which is stimulating for other sectors in the country.
However, faster implementation of EE projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be achieved by focusing on creating an enabling legal and framework for EE in public sector, measuring, verification and reporting system and development of financial mechanisms for energy efficiency.
The international conference “Improving Energy Efficiency Enabling Environment in Public Buildings Sector in the Bosnia and Herzegovina” that will be organized by the Ministry of Spatial Planning of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and held on the 14th September 2022 in Sarajevo, BiH will bring together all stakeholders interested in the energy efficiency local market and the public building sector to discuss on all aspects relevant for the EE in public buildings, particularly the financing models and capacity buildings.
The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has recognized the importance of energy efficiency towards sustainable economic development of BiH and our country's accession to the EU, and through the World Bank project for energy efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BEEP), implemented in 2016 in the Federation of BiH, on the benefits of improving EE in the public building sector and support the development of scalable energy efficiency financing models.
In order to present and discuss synergies and cooperation of public, private and financial sectors in removing existing barriers to the market development and improved EE in public building sector, this high level event will serve as a platform for presenting new ideas and inputs that will contribute to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU accession process and meeting the requirements of the Energy Community Treaty in terms of energy efficiency.
The conference will host distinguished local and international guests and experts who will present their experiences and discuss the following topics:
Registration of participants
Opening and welcome remarks
Mr. Josip Martić, Minister, Ministry of Spatial Planning of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr. Admir Softić, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Ivana Hlavsová, Ambassador, Embassy of the Czech Republic
Mr. Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ms. Eva Gibson Smedberg, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden
Mr. Daniel Stinsky, Counselor for Economic Affairs and Development, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Mr. Christopher Sheldon, Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, World Bank
Ms. Manuela Naessl, Head of the Office for Bosnia and Herzegovina, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Ms. Steliana Nedera, Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Presentation of the Energy Efficiency Program in the Western Balkans - World Bank
Mr. Charles Cormier, Infrastructure Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia (ECA), World Bank
Revolving Energy Efficiency Fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Public Buildings
Ms. Jasmina Katica, Head of Energy Efficiency Department, Ministry of Spatial Planning of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Refreshment break
PANEL 1
Implementation of policy that stimulates energy efficiency improvement of public buildings
Institutional framework for energy efficiency in buildings in FBiH
Transposition of EU energy efficiency directives (obligations and progress of BiH)
Creating an enabling legal and regulatory framework for energy efficiency in public buildings sector
Strategic documents in FBiH
Q&A and conclusions
Lunch break
PANEL 2
Investment-grade energy efficiency policy for public buildings
Sustainable models for financing energy efficiency measures in the public building sector and the readiness of BiH for their implementation
Monitoring and optimization of energy costs through the energy management and control systems
Examples of best practice for improving energy efficiency of public buildings in EU and the region
Q&A and conclusions
Closing remarks
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts – Research Center for Energy and Sustainable Development
EBRD
Energy Community
World Bank
UNION Bank
GIZ
CETEOR
Ministry of Spacial Planning of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Bank
CETEOR
Environmental Protection and EE Fund, Croatia
USAID EPA
ECo Ltd, United Kingdom
Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Republic of Croatia
UNDP u BiH
Finance in Motion, BiH
