A Q&A with the City of Živinice

Alija Nurkić, advisor to the Mayor of the City of Živinice. Photo: Private archive.

How would you balance short-term economic pressures with long-term sustainability goals in the development of the Transition Plan for your community?

The City Administration of Živinice has recognized the importance of energy transition. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with the City of Živinice, face limited options. Without entering the trade system, we risk becoming entirely uncompetitive. Transitioning to renewable energy sources in production could not only mitigate this risk but also potentially increase our export quota, offering significant advantages for domestic production.

It's worth noting that we are in the final stages of obtaining permits, including elaborations, environmental impact studies, urban planning, and construction permits, for the construction of photovoltaic power plants on degraded landfills. This initiative represents JP Elektroprivreda BiH's support to the City of Živinice in transitioning from a coal-dependent environment to one focused on green energy.  Additionally, in collaboration with the World Bank and the coal mine "Kreka" Tuzla, we have agreed on the construction of photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 12 MW.

We are currently working diligently on the installation of solar panels on public buildings. Thanks to a turnkey donation received through the Open Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fund, we are set to install solar panels at the Second Elementary School of Živinice. After obtaining all necessary approvals and permits, we are planning to install solar power panels ranging from 15 to 18 kV, with operations scheduled to commence in two weeks. There are several benefits of installing solar panels on the school:

-It will cover the entire electricity needs of the school;

-It helps educate the school administration as well as the local community on preparing green projects and conducting research on the topic.

Simultaneously, research and project documentation are underway for the First Elementary School Živinice. The goal is to extend this initiative to all elementary and secondary schools in the City of Živinice over the next 2-3 years. These initiatives not only bring economic benefits but also contribute to ecological and health improvements. Transitioning to green energy will lead to significant savings, particularly in CO2 emissions trading.

The project for constructing the regional solid waste landfill in Živinice is currently underway. Can you tell us more about it, and how crucial is a modern landfill like this for the sustainability of Živinice?

Solving the issue of constructing a regional sanitary landfill in the Tuzla Canton, one of the most densely populated cantons in FBiH, is of paramount importance. Establishing such a landfill would necessitate the closure of unauthorized dumping sites, significantly mitigating environmental risks. The development of regional sanitary landfills aligns with the Federal Environmental Protection Strategy.

In the Tuzla region, currently, an insufficient number of bins and containers are available for waste collection, resulting in some waste being improperly disposed of in plastic bags near collection points. Systematic selection and recycling of municipal waste components are practically non-existent in the Tuzla region and are only sporadically undertaken by some municipal entities, with varying degrees of success. Additionally, the current fleet of waste transport vehicles is inadequate. The existing landfills are essentially unregulated dumpsites, lacking proper environmental and health protections. Therefore, the described waste management practices underscore the urgent need for a properly regulated regional sanitary landfill. Such a facility must adhere to relevant state, entity, municipal, and EU laws and regulations.

Among the basic priorities of waste management, and to achieve the goal of timely prevention of pollution and reduction of consequences for human health and the environment, waste management will be carried out in a way that ensures proper collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of waste materials, adherence to environmental regulations, and implementation of sustainable practices.

The integrated waste management system is based on the principles of prevention, recycling and polluter pays.

The regional sanitary landfill will be constructed in compliance with current legal regulations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, EU directives, and World Bank standards. The expected lifespan of this regional landfill should be at least 20 years.

 What role do you see community-based renewable energy projects playing in the transition process, and how would you involve the city’s residents in such initiatives?

We plan to include all residents, businessmen, and individuals in the energy transition. We have already become leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we intend to continue in the future. In 2024, we allocated 500,000.00 KM for subsidizing insulation in residential buildings. Discussions with GIZ are ongoing for establishing energy communities. Our efforts promote renewable energy sources and energy communities, create budgets, and utilize funds from higher levels and international sources. We recognized early on that the biggest challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the energy sector transition, and that all institutions must be involved to facilitate the transition. All authoritative analyses indicate that fossil fuel energy will become increasingly costly. It's worth noting that many foreign institutions and companies have recognized our work and supported us. They were surprised by our vision, which initiated certain initiatives from the local level rather than waiting for action from higher levels of government.

The promotion of renewable energy sources will not only contribute to environmental protection and generate savings but also stimulate new activities and the development of innovative technologies, thereby fostering economic growth. Enhancing energy efficiency will also bolster economic stability by increasing industrial competitiveness, reducing reliance on imported energy, and creating new employment opportunities. Pursuant to our initiative, a new training programme for solar panel installers was established at the Mixed High School. Additionally, we've streamlined the process for installing solar panels on individual residential buildings.

How do you see technology playing a role in the transition process, and how can technology and innovation benefit the community?

The complete green transition of companies must begin with a comprehensive change in mindset and a clearly conceived strategy that includes financial stability, resilience, environmental acceptability, and socially responsible business practices. It is necessary to encourage strategic thinking in the economy to perceive the green transition as an opportunity for transformation, innovation, the application of new technologies, and long-term profitable growth. Automation, robotization, and digitization of green business processes contribute to enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

It is necessary to encourage strategic thinking in the economy to perceive the green transition as an opportunity for transformation, innovation, the application of new technologies, and long-term profitable growth. To achieve the desired outcomes of business activities and attract attention to individual projects, products, and events, communication, as the basis of all types of relationships, must be designed and led in the direction of realizing and satisfying the expectations and wishes of all involved participants. Communication tools, techniques, and channels need to be aligned with the target audience. The rapid development of electronic communication channels affects almost all spheres of human activity, including interpersonal communication, the operations of companies, and the economy in general.

As part of the BiH SuTra programme, the preparation of the Transition Plan for the City of Živinice is underway. The plan will incorporate suggestions from community members gathered through an online survey. Could you provide insights into the current stage of the preparation of the Transition Plan, and share any challenges and opportunities encountered during this process?

First and foremost, we are deeply honoured to have been selected as one of the four local communities participating in the BiH SuTra programme. This opportunity allows us to engage with leading experts in the field, exchanging experiences and opinions. During our previous sessions with representatives from the BiH SuTra programme, we witnessed significant interest from both non-governmental and governmental sectors in environmental matters. These sessions generated numerous constructive proposals aimed at facilitating a smoother and fairer energy transition.

Under the leadership of Dr. Began Muhić, the Mayor of Živinice, and our dedicated transition team, the city administration wholeheartedly supports the programme. We are committed to transitioning from fossil fuel usage to renewable energy sources as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. Our commitment is evidenced by completed, ongoing, and planned projects, including the construction of photovoltaic power plants, installation of heat pumps, and implementation of energy efficiency measures for the residents of Živinice.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a signatory to international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Sofia Declaration for the Western Balkans. However, our energy transition efforts lag those of our regional counterparts due to delays in enacting key legislation. The recent passage of laws on energy, electricity, and renewable energy sources in August 2023 is a significant step, but we are still awaiting the adoption of relevant by-laws.

Given these challenges, we recognize the importance of accelerating the just transition process with the invaluable contribution of the BiH SuTra programme and our experts. We anticipate improvements in the ecological situation in our city and efficient implementation of the transition in the coming period.

The transition plans are underway

Transition plans for all four local self-government units (Banovići, Breza, Ugljevik, and Živinice) will be comprehensive and participatory documents aimed at achieving visions that were defined in 2023. These plans set ambitious yet achievable long-term goals (until 2050), medium-term goals (until 2035), and short-term goals (3 years), along with measures to enhance societal sustainability and improve environmental and living conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina's coal-rich regions.