Bosnian Serb Power Rules Dismay Investors

Businesspeople and investors in Republika Srpska say it is no wonder investors are in short supply when even basic requirements, such as power supplies, are so difficult and expensive to get.

Kadir and Borka Djonlagic are two victims of the problems with power supplies in Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity.

Bosnian-born Swiss-based entrepreneurs, have invested more than a million euros in an ethno-village named Oaza [Oasis] in Kadir's hometown of Prijedor, in northwest Republika Srpska.

With restaurants, bungalows, artisan shops, small farms and similar services, offering a mixture of traditional hospitality and modern accommodation, ethno-villages have become a hit with domestic and international tourists for years.

With the May 1 opening ceremony approaching, the Oasis village is undergoing the finishing touches.

But one of the main issues remains unresolved - the power supply.

Because of this, the Djonlagic family will probably depend on a power supply from their noisy generator for the opening ceremony.

"Dozens of journalists came here to report about our investment," Kadir told BIRN. "But when we open the village officially... the interviews... will be right beside the generator, which makes a rather uncomfortable noise," he added.

Despite the size of their financial investment, the Djonlagic family says their business - like so many others - is suffering because of the regulations of the RS power company.

The ethno-village is located in the village of Kamicani near Prijedor, which has seen the rapid construction of residential and industrial buildings.

However, the infrastructure, especially water and electricity supplies, is lagging behind due to outdated infrastructure.

"Both inhabitants and...