Creating an energy strategy where BiH completely abandons the use of Russian gas in favor of much more expensive American liquefied natural gas (LNG) is absurd and tantamount to economic suicide, says energy and gas sector expert Vojislav Vuletić.
Commenting on the efforts of certain Bosniak politicians, including BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić, to ensure that BiH relinquishes its alleged dependency on Russian gas and transitions to North American LNG at all costs, Vuletić stated that these are politically motivated messages rather than sensible and economic ones.
Vuletić argues that if BiH does not want to jeopardize its energy stability, it must not lightly abandon existing supply routes and the discussions surrounding the connection with the “Turkish Stream” pipeline, as reported by Glas Srpske.
- “Relying solely on LNG and creating politically driven pipelines is truly absurd and akin to suicide,” Vuletić said.
Vuletić stated that Komšić’s claims, which he recently published in an American journal asserting that Europe’s, including BiH’s, energy stability should be built on American LNG, are inaccurate. He added that certain European countries that have taken this path have already felt the repercussions.
He also noted that the potential construction of the Southern Interconnection pipeline, which would link BiH with Croatia and the gas terminal on Krk, is senseless.
- “It’s a waste of money. Those who follow the gas market know that even the US doesn’t have sufficient quantities of LNG,” Vuletić explained.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, together with the US Ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy, is one of the strongest advocates for the construction of the Southern Interconnection pipeline, which would connect BiH with the Krk terminal in Croatia, where American LNG is primarily imported.
American officials have been warning Europeans, including BiH authorities, for years that they need to eliminate their dependence on Russian gas. On the other hand, the US continues to purchase uranium from Russia in large quantities. Despite all the sanctions imposed, Russia still meets 24% of the current US needs.
Source: RTRS
