SECW

The fourth edition of Sarajevo Energy & Climate Week – SECW 2026 was officially closed in Sarajevo, marking the end of five days of discussions on energy, climate, sustainability and the green transition.

The closing session featured Dario Liguti, Director of the UNECE Energy, Housing and Land Management Division, who addressed participants and highlighted the importance of continued cooperation and dialogue on the region’s energy and climate priorities.

The session also included the announcement of SECW 2027, marking the continuation of the platform and its role in bringing together experts, institutions, businesses and international partners around the key challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.

Digitalisation of Energy Management in Public Buildings in Focus at SECW 2026

As part of the fourth edition of Sarajevo Energy & Climate Week – SECW 2026, Panel 21, “Assessment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Building Energy Management Systems in Public Buildings in South-Eastern Europe”, was held, organised by UNECE - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The panel focused on how digital technologies can improve energy management in public buildings, with particular emphasis on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), and Energy Management Information Systems (EMIS).

The discussion addressed the need to move from manual and retrospective data collection towards automated, real-time monitoring and management of energy consumption, as well as the challenges slowing the wider deployment of these technologies across South-Eastern Europe.
Particular attention was given to the readiness assessment for the deployment of AMI and BEMS in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, developed by UNECE at the request of the two countries. Participants discussed interoperability, data quality and availability, technical capacity, institutional coordination, and the need to scale up existing pilot projects into systematic solutions.

The panel was moderated by Igor L., Economic Affairs Officer at UNECE EHLMD, together with Oleg Dzioubinski, Regional Adviser at UNECE EHLMD. Introductory remarks were delivered by Oleg Dzioubinski, Sanja Kapetina, Head of the Department for Secondary Energy and Projects at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Borko Raičević, Senior Energy Efficiency Expert at the Energy Community Secretariat.

The discussion featured Aida Jelinić, Boris Lubarda, Borko Raicevic, Aldin Mededovic, and Simona Putnik, Youth Representative to the UNECE Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency.

The panel concluded that the digitalisation of energy data can provide an important foundation for more efficient management of public buildings, but that its full potential depends on high-quality data, interoperable systems, clear institutional responsibilities, and the capacity to implement them effectively.

Great ideas call for a great break.

During Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week 2026, amid numerous panel discussions, knowledge sharing, and meetings between participants from various sectors, break times were enriched with the flavors of Argeta.

Over a delicious bite, conversations continued beyond the conference halls—through informal gatherings, sharing of experiences, and making new connections, all of which form an essential part of the SECW atmosphere.

Energy, conversations and refreshment – all part of the SECW atmosphere.

Throughout Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week 2026, participants enjoyed a rich programme and numerous opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences, while also taking a refreshing break with the familiar flavours of Cedevita.

During informal breaks and networking moments, Cedevita became a small but memorable part of the atmosphere that makes SECW a place for meeting, exchanging ideas and connecting people from the energy, business and wider community.

Within the Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week 2026, Panel 20, “Energy Efficiency: From Residential Building Renovation to Data Collection,” was held, organised by GIZ and moderated by Selma Hasic, GIZ Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

The panel focused on practical experiences from the initial residential building renovation projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the challenges encountered, lessons learned and results achieved. Particular attention was given to scaling up investments and accelerating the renovation of multi-apartment buildings across the country through appropriate financing mechanisms, stakeholder engagement and the identification of key success factors.

The discussion also addressed the importance of systematic data collection, monitoring and management related to implemented energy efficiency measures, particularly in terms of tracking energy savings and assessing the overall impact of projects. Reliable project data is essential for evidence-based policymaking and for meeting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national reporting obligations under the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).
The introductory speakers were Solomon Ioannou, Programme Manager, Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mario Jašić, GIZ.

The panel brought together Sanja Kapetina, Head of the Department for Secondary Energy and Projects, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Jasmina Katica, Head of the Department for Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Project Implementation, Federal Ministry of Spatial Planning; Tijana Marjanac, Head of Department, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund of the Republic of Srpska; Milijana Ivanic Municipality of Sokolac; and Asja Kevrić Klepo, City of Zenica.

The discussion provided an opportunity to exchange concrete experiences from the institutional and local levels, with a focus on how successful energy renovation projects can be scaled into a broader and more systematic renovation of the residential building stock, supported by reliable data, effective financing mechanisms and stronger public policies.

As part of Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week 2026, Panel 19, “How the Global Oil Supply Disruption Will Affect the Energy Security in BiH,” is being held at the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and organised by EU4Energy.

The panel is moderated by Branislava Lepotić Kovačević, Key Expert 2 / Senior Energy Lawyer at EU4Energy. Introductory remarks are being delivered by Krešimir Baranović from EU4Energy and Priit Enok from the Energy Community Secretariat.

The panel brings together Aida Haračić, Expert Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Eldar Hukić, Assistant Minister at the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FMERI); Zoran Savić, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska (MER RS); Priit Enok from the Energy Community Secretariat; Anamarija Marić, Senior Specialist for Planning, Analytics and Controlling at Terminali Federacije; Aleksandar Kovačević, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies – Helvetas; Merima Maslo, Assistant Minister for Prices and Market Analysis at the Federal Ministry of Trade; and Krešimir Baranović from EU4Energy.

The discussion focuses on the potential impact of global oil supply disruptions on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy security, the resilience of the country’s energy system, developments in the oil market, and the capacity of institutions and the energy sector to respond to potential disruptions in supply.

Tomorrow marks the fifth and final day of Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week – SECW 2026. Tomorrow, we will meet at the Privredna / Gospodarska komora FBiH - Chamber of Economy of FBiH.

The programme begins at 09:00 with Panel 19, “How the global oil supply disruption will affect the energy security in BiH”, which will open a discussion on the potential impact of global oil supply disruptions on the energy security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At 10:00, Panel 20, “Energy Efficiency: From Residential Building Renovation to Data Collection”, will focus on experience from residential building renovation, opportunities to scale up energy efficiency investments, and the collection and management of data on achieved energy savings.

At 12:00, Panel 21, “Assessment of advanced metering infrastructure and building energy management systems in public buildings in South-Eastern Europe”, will focus on the digitalisation of energy management, advanced metering infrastructure, and energy management systems in public buildings, as well as opportunities for their wider application across South-Eastern Europe.

The SECW 2026 programme concludes at 13:50 with the closing of the conference and the announcement of SECW 2027. The closing address will be delivered by Dario Liguti, Director of the UNECE Energy, Housing and Land Management Division.

After five days of discussions, knowledge exchange, and concrete conversations on energy and climate policy, we are bringing SECW 2026 to a close with another day dedicated to issues that will shape the energy future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

Coal mine methane represents both a climate challenge and a potential energy resource. The opportunities for capturing, utilising, and reducing methane emissions were discussed at Panel 18, “Coal Mine Methane: From Hazard to Energy – Harnessing Coal Mine Methane (CMM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, held as part of SECW 2026.

The panel was organised by People in Need (PIN) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and moderated by Sanja Kapetina, Head of the Department for Secondary Energy and Projects at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The introductory presentations were delivered by Sina Spiegler, Programme Management Senior Officer at the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and Sanja Kapetina.

The discussion brought together Felicia A. Ruiz, Clean Air Task Force, Sina Spiegler, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Viktorija Musa, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hamdija Mujezin, People in Need Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Emina Mravović, President of CEEO.

The discussion focused on the technical, regulatory, institutional, and financial prerequisites for developing coal mine methane utilisation projects, alongside international experience and potential next steps for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Particular attention was given to connecting methane emission reductions with concrete opportunities for its energy utilisation, through cooperation among institutions, the mining sector, experts, and international partners.

Energy systems are entering a phase in which digital technologies, smart grids, and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important for more efficient management, system reliability, and adaptation to the evolving needs of the energy sector.

These issues were discussed at Panel 17, “Digital Technologies, Smart Grids and Artificial Intelligence as Drivers of the Future Eco-Environment for Energy System Management”, held as part of SECW 2026.

The opening presentation and moderation were led by Muhidin (Dino) Lelic, Ph.D., Director and Executive Advisor at Danovo Energy Solutions, United States.

The panel brought together experts from the energy sector, international institutions, research organisations, and companies: Dragan Komljenovic Ph.D., Hydro-québec Research Institute (ireq), Khaled Alshehri, KAPSARC, Igor Litvinyuk, UNECE - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe EHLMD, Ekrem Softicć, JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. Sarajevo, Armin Đuliman, Operator for Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration of the FBiH, Azra Hasanovic-Alispahic Energoinvest, Adrian Florea, Aspentech, Emerson, Josef Fantik, Emerson.

The discussion focused particularly on the application of artificial intelligence and advanced digital solutions in energy system management, automation, smart grid development, and improving system resilience and efficiency.
The exchange of expertise between professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community provided an opportunity to discuss how technology can respond to the increasingly complex demands of modern energy systems and support their continued transformation.

How can we ensure a stable and resilient electricity grid in a time of accelerated energy transition? This was the focus of Panel 16, “Resilience of Electricity Networks to Contemporary Challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Region”, held as part of SECW 2026.

The discussion focused on the challenges posed by ageing infrastructure, the growing share of renewable energy sources, cross-border electricity flows, and climate change, as well as the need to modernise the grid, improve system planning, strengthen emergency preparedness, and enhance regional cooperation.

The panel was organised by GIZ and moderated by Mario Jašić of GIZ Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The introductory presentation was delivered by Goran Majstorović from the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP).

The discussion brought together Branka Knezevic, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Obrad Skrba, Independent System Operator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dragan Perunović, Crnogorski Elektroprenosni Sistem AD CGES, Davor Bajs, Energy Community Secretariat, and Danko Blažević, HOPS Croatian Transmission System Operator Plc. .

The discussion also addressed how strategic planning, timely risk preparedness, and regional cooperation can further strengthen electricity networks and support the demands of the energy transition.