On 5 August, a Croatian private investor began constructing a hydroelectric plant on the Una River, which flows from Croatia into Bosnia and serves as a natural border between the two countries. The river's upper reaches in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and declared a national park.

Meanwhile, the area where the river flows in the Croatian municipality of Gračac is part of the European Union's Natura 2000 network of protected areas. Activists from both countries are protesting the construction of the power plant.

The local community has also joined the protests against the construction. Tanja Rastović, head of the Una association from the nearby town of Srb, accused the investor, Pipra, of causing an interruption in the water supply during the hot weather. In a statement to Novosti, she reported that the construction work muddied the water, making it unsafe to drink. The group is now collecting signatures for a petition to stop the project.

The Una River is not only unique to the Balkans but also holds global significance. Its source is one of the deepest karstic springs on Earth, with water flowing up from conduits in the bedrock. As it runs from Croatia to Bosnia, serving as a natural border, the Una holds significant cultural importance and is considered a shared heritage of both countries. The river is also home to 17 endangered species. Environmental experts warn that the construction could pose a serious ecological threat to this protected waterway.

According to the environmental organisation Zelena Akcija, the Croatian company Pipra does not have several permits, such as an assessment on the acceptability of the intervention in the environmental network area or even a valid construction permit, which expired in 2022. The ongoing protests aim to pressure the Croatian authorities to suspend construction while the documents are reviewed. Protesters are also calling on Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to intervene.

Outdoor clothing brand Patagonia has launched an international petition to the Croatian Prime Minister. The appeal for its signatures states, among other things: "In addition to the immediate threats this construction poses, it sets a dangerous precedent, undermining environmental laws and protections to safeguard our natural heritage." Patagonia appeals: "Let's stop this crime against nature."

Source: euronews.com, balkangreenenergynews.com