As part of the project Energy Efficiency and Renewables – Supporting Energy Policies at the Local Level (ENER-SUPPLY), financed by EU IPA funds and implemented by the Regional Education and Information Centre on Sustainable Development in South East Europe (REIC), Local Energy Day in Central Bosnia Canton was organized on 1 September 2011.
The event took place at the Aquareumal Hotel in Fojnica bringing together 14 partners from 11 Southeast European countries, led by Potenza Municipality from Italy.
The energy project’s partner from BiH is REIC, in cooperation with the beneficiary, the Government and municipalities of Central Bosnia Canton. The project began in November 2009 and will last until November 2012.
ENER-SUPPLY is designed to help local areas improve their use of renewable energy sources (RES) and implement Energy Efficiency (EE) measures.
ENER-SUPPLY Project Manager Marco Caponigro explained that the project supports knowledge and capacity related to the programming and management of techniques and methods in the field of energy audits, information campaigns, and financial tools. “Our activities are aimed at providing assistance in regard to relevant EU directives, structural funds for energy, state aid in energy, emissions trading, energy management and renewable source planning,” he said.
The 1 September event served as a forum to raise issues on renewable and energy efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a particular accent on Central Bosnia Canton. Renewable energy equipment that is affordable for most citizens was exhibited and there were presentations on the sensible use of energy at the local-community level.
Professor Aleksandar Knežević from REIC said the model of current energy development in Bosnia and Herzegovina has to be changed completely. “We have to stop further global warming and introduce significant carbon dioxide reduction,” he said. “There is also the issue of biomass and prevention of soil depletion, not to endanger food production.”
The Fojnica event brought together representatives of the cantonal government, the European Union member states and a large number of leading energy-sector companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad.
