Ivica Jakic, a consultant of the Ijex company, noted that major energy companies in Europe were currently shifting their conventional energy production in separate, newly-established companies, following the example of the establishment of the so-called bad banks. In parallel, they are increasingly involved in plans for renewables, and this is also an opportunity for Croatia, Jakic said.
Croatia has been lagging behind the developed Europe, which is why the country has not developed the so-called dirty production, which has turned out to be an advantage for the country, according to this expert.
Croatia needs the implementation of a mix of power plants—thermal, hydropower, with a a contribution from renewable sources and energy, and it should make use of its geographical position, Jakic said.
Commenting on plans for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on Krk, he said that this project was intended not only to Croatia but to Europe, and several regional companies should be involved in its implementation.
Croatian Deputy Economy Minister Leo Prelec added that Europe was a big importer of energy and therefore the LNG terminal in Croatia was important to Europe, too.
He recalled that onshore exploration and production sharing agreements on fields in eastern Croatia would help increase a share of the domestically-produced gas in gas consumption.
Prelec announced changes in the gas market legislation so as to fully liberalise the wholesale gas market.
Currently, there are 56 gas suppliers in Croatia.