In 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) recorded a substantial increase in its electricity import expenditures, reaching approximately €321.5 million. This figure represents a dramatic doubling compared to the previous year, underscoring the challenges faced by the country’s energy sector. The surge in import costs can be attributed to a combination of factors, including declining domestic electricity production, coal supply disruptions, and prolonged maintenance shutdowns at critical thermal power plants.
The primary supplier of electricity to BiH was Croatia, which accounted for around €136.5 million in purchases. Slovenia followed with imports valued at about €55.2 million. Additionally, Albania and Serbia contributed approximately €45.5 million and €44.3 million, respectively, to BiH’s electricity needs.
A historical perspective highlights the exceptional nature of 2025’s import figures. In contrast, import spending was significantly lower in previous years, with about €110.5 million in 2023, roughly €201 million in 2022, and around €112 million in 2021. Notably, electricity imports were only about €49 million in 2020.
The simultaneous shutdown of two major coal-fired plants in the Republic of Srpska (RS) played a critical role in this year’s increased reliance on imports. During May and June, both the TPPs Ugljevik and Gacko, which collectively contribute approximately 65% of RS’s electricity generation, were offline for around ten days. TPP Ugljevik underwent its annual maintenance from 21 April to 5 June, while TPP Gacko was out of service from 24 May to 2 August, undergoing significant maintenance work scheduled every five years. These outages compelled the state-owned utility ERS to depend heavily on imported electricity. Furthermore, TPP Ugljevik faced multiple interruptions throughout the year due to persistent coal shortages.
<pThe coal supply issues are widespread across the country. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has also been grappling with inadequate coal supplies and aging thermal infrastructure, resulting in a nearly 25% decline in electricity generation over the past four years.
<pInterestingly, while imports surged, BiH also experienced an increase in electricity exports during 2025, although these figures remained below historical highs. The country exported electricity worth about €444 million, an increase from approximately €342.5 million in 2024. However, this performance is still below the peak export levels observed in 2022 and 2023, when annual exports exceeded €540 million and €550 million, respectively.
