The European Investment Bank’s (EIB) financing decision for the Poklečani wind farm project in Bosnia and Herzegovina is under scrutiny following an inquiry launched by the European Ombudsman. This investigation comes amid concerns regarding the project’s permitting processes and adherence to environmental regulations.
Local media reports indicate that the Ombudsman has requested comprehensive documentation from the EIB, including details on the approval process and assessments related to environmental and social impacts. This inquiry was initiated after a non-governmental organization raised a complaint questioning the adequacy of the EIB’s internal review, which concluded that no further action was necessary prior to financing.
Significant attention has been drawn to a ruling from the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which annulled the urban planning permit for the wind farm. The court’s decision stemmed from a lawsuit by a local resident, highlighting procedural deficiencies in the permitting process that did not comply with existing legislation.
The court identified several critical issues, including the lack of necessary approvals, unresolved property ownership disputes, and insufficient consideration of cultural heritage protections. Additionally, it noted that authorities failed to adequately address private landowners’ interests or initiate required expropriation procedures.
Archaeological and cultural heritage elements present at the proposed construction site, such as traditional stone walls and wells, were also flagged as inadequately assessed during the approval process. The absence of a completed environmental impact assessment was particularly concerning, given its necessity under national regulations.
The Poklečani wind farm is planned for the Štitar mountain and Debelo Brdo area near Rakitno within Posušje municipality. The project aims to install 20 wind turbines, each with an estimated capacity of 6.6 MW.
Upon completion, this facility is projected to produce approximately 436 GWh of electricity annually, sufficient to power over 72,000 households. Furthermore, it is expected to contribute to a reduction of more than 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year compared to fossil fuel-based electricity generation.
This development would not only enhance EP HZHB’s renewable energy portfolio but also increase its generation capacity by nearly 15%, raising total annual electricity output by around 20%. Additionally, it would mitigate the company’s vulnerability to hydrological variability and fluctuations in electricity market prices.
