US warnings after Dodik meetings: There should be no delays in disconnecting from Russian gas

The United States said it will carefully monitor those in Bosnia and Herzegovina who "prioritize political gain over energy security, relying on reliable American energy and ending dependence on Russian gas."

This is how the US State Department responded to Radio Free Europe's question regarding recent meetings between officials of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity with representatives of the Russian energy company Gazprom, at a time when the European Union is warning of the gradual cessation of Russian gas imports.

"Given that the EU is phasing out Russian gas by the fall of 2027, Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot afford delays," the State Department response said.

Republika Srpska officials, including representatives of the entity's government and the leader of the ruling party, Milorad Dodik, have held talks with Gazprom executives in St. Petersburg in recent days.

The visit to Russia comes at a time when RS authorities continue preparations for the construction of the gas pipeline known as the New Eastern Interconnection, a project estimated to cost 500 million euros.

This pipeline is expected to connect this entity to the network in Serbia, through which Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently supplied exclusively with Russian gas.

Following the meeting in late May, RS Minister of Energy and Mining, Petar Djokic, confirmed that this entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains an important partner of Gazprom in the development of gas infrastructure.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently completely dependent on Russian gas, which is supplied through Serbia via the TurkStream.

Authorities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are planning to build a pipeline called the Southern Interconnection, through which gas would come from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the island of Krk in Croatia. American investors are also involved in the project.

The State Department emphasized that the United States remains committed to partnering with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of diversifying its energy sector.

The State Department also emphasized that the Southern Interconnector pipeline has been a priority of the US Government during the last three administrations, and that it will expand and diversify the energy sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Giving it greater control over its energy supply by providing access to natural gas and reducing its dependence on a single, unreliable source," the US State Department said.

As stated in the response, US energy exports are the central pillar of US economic cooperation with European partners.

"The United States has the resources to support European efforts to divest from Russian energy and boost economic growth. American companies are reliable partners and stand ready to provide support," the US State Department said in a response to Radio Free Europe.

Bosnia and Herzegovina consumes up to 250 million cubic meters of gas each year, which enters the country initially at Shepak in the east, and through a route built almost 50 years ago is transported to Sarajevo, where the largest number of consumers is, and further to central Bosnia.

The GeoPost