Bosnia Greens Celebrate as Federation Bans Small Hydropower Plants, 7 July 2022

The upper house of the Federation entity parliament...confirmed changes to the entity’s Law on Electricity to ban the building of small hydropower plants up to 10 MWh because of their negative impact on the environment.

The decision follows a decade-long struggle between environmental activists and construction companies. Activists argue that the small hydropower plants damage rivers and biodiversity and cause problems for local residents.

The law was adopted with 33 votes in favour, one abstention and no votes against.

“This historic decision came as a result of the pressure and ten-year struggle of activists in numerous local communities who resolutely opposed the construction of ecocidal mini-HPPs,” Fondacija ACT, an NGO that has been leading the campaign against small hydropower plants, said...