Current State of Coal Mines of the EP BiH Concern and Long Term Plan of Coal Supply for Thermal Power Plants “Tuzla” and “Kakanj”

It is a well-known and correct fact that “the coal has a strategic and irreplaceable role in the electricity production system of Federation of BiH and that this will stay in the future period”. In favour of this fact goes the development policy of EPBiH, which has already started with the design and construction of new/replacement thermal power plant units in Tuzla and Kakanj. The new unit 7 in Tuzla is a cogeneration unit, which will burn lignite coals from coal mine “Kreka”. Construction of the unit 7 in Tuzla is scheduled to start in 2017. Also, the decision has been made to construct a new/replacement cogeneration unit 8 in Kakanj, which should take over the electricity production from old units in that thermal power plant. Strategic plan of EPBiH for the future is to have two highly efficient cogeneration units (built according to BAT technologies and with efficiency greater than 42%), one in Tuzla and one in Kakanj, which would satisfy the market needs. The construction of new/replacement units, which will burn domestic coals, will ensure a secure market of coal and long term security. This paper analyses the general state of coal mines and presents the long term projections of coal supply for thermal power plants of EPBiH.