Bosnia and Herzegovina generated 7.44 TWh of electricity in the first half of 2026, up 3.5% year-on-year versus the same period of 2025. The overall increase coincided with a change in the generation mix, with hydroelectricity and renewables expanding while coal-fired output fell.
Hydro and renewables rise while coal declines
Hydroelectric generation climbed 32.4% to 3.13 TWh. Generation from transmission-connected wind and solar increased 16.1% to 0.64 TWh. Coal-fired generation dropped 16.9% to 3.07 TWh, reducing the contribution of the country’s traditional thermal fleet.
The stronger domestic balance supported a reduction in cross-border power flows. Bosnia and Herzegovina cut electricity imports by almost 40%. The move followed record spending in 2025 of BAM 629 million, or approximately €321.6 million, on imported power.
Imports fall, exports also decline
Despite lower import volumes, exports declined by around 20%. The additional hydroelectric output was used primarily to displace imports and weaker thermal generation rather than restore a previous export surplus.
In the first half of 2026, hydropower and coal each accounted for roughly 41–42% of total electricity production. Grid-connected wind and solar contributed approximately 9%. The mix was therefore more balanced than Bosnia and Herzegovina’s historical reliance on ageing lignite-fired generation, while remaining dependent on hydrological conditions.
Sensitivity to water conditions and implications for trading
A shift back to dry conditions would reduce a significant volume of low-variable-cost hydroelectric generation. At the same time, the thermal fleet continues to face challenges related to mine performance, environmental requirements and ageing equipment. Utilities can reduce import expenditure during favourable water years without addressing structural availability issues affecting coal assets.
For regional power traders, reduced import needs remove one source of demand during wet periods, while lower exports have the opposite effect. Bosnia and Herzegovina is becoming less consistently directional in cross-border electricity trading. Hydrological conditions, coal plant outages and reservoir management decisions can move the market between importer and exporter more quickly than suggested by historical generation patterns.
