The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) is moving forward with plans to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the natural gas sector through the adoption of a new Gas Law. This legislation is designed to regulate the full value chain, including production, distribution, storage, and supply. It aims to align the energy system with EU standards while strengthening energy security. A central goal of the law is to modernize gas infrastructure and protect consumer rights. It introduces stricter regulatory oversight by the Energy Regulatory Commission of the Federation (FERK), improves transparency across the sector, and grants the Government the authority to act in response to market disruptions, ensuring a stable and reliable gas supply.
According to Vedran Lakic, the Federation’s Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry, the law plays an important role in shaping future energy policy. It lays the foundation for a better regulatory environment, introduces legal protections for end-users, and supports the expansion of gas infrastructure across the Federation. The legislation also contributes to the country’s environmental goals by encouraging a move away from fossil fuels and promotes greater competitiveness within the energy market. Its provisions are carefully tailored to fit within the jurisdiction of the Federation, focusing on areas such as gas production, storage, distribution, and supply.
The new law also demonstrates the Federation’s commitment to developing natural gas regulations in coordination with state-level institutions. It ensures that FERK will supervise all sector operations and that both the Ministry and FERK will be responsible for monitoring compliance, enforcing regulations, and working to improve the reliability of gas deliveries. As an added measure, the law allows the Federal Government to declare a supply emergency in cases of market instability, delivery issues, supply shortages, or price volatility. In such cases, authorities may implement temporary pricing controls and other emergency interventions to minimize negative impacts on consumers.
The draft law has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is now awaiting confirmation by the House of Peoples. This legislative development marks a significant milestone in the transformation of the Federation’s energy framework and its alignment with European standards.