Questions Without Answers After the Opening of the Dabar Hydroelectric Power Plant Tunnel
Citizens and NGOs Demand Urgent Response from Authorities
After the ceremonial opening of the tunnel for the Gornji horizonti project and the Dabar Hydroelectric Power Plant, NGOs from Blagaj, Stolac, and Čapljina, along with concerned residents from these areas, want to draw public and institutional attention to the significant and serious risks this project poses to the Buna and Bunica rivers, Bregava, and the Hutovo Blato Nature Park. The local population is justifiably worried. Projections suggest that approximately 85% of water could be diverted towards the lower horizons, which would directly impact the natural sources of these rivers. This means that during the summer months, when water levels are already low, there could be a drastic decrease in river levels, leading to catastrophic consequences for the ecosystems of Buna and Bunica, the entire Hutovo Blato hydrosystem, and the lives of people who have been connected to these rivers for centuries.
NGOs and citizens demand a clear response and accountability. They openly question local, cantonal, federal, and national authorities and representatives: What has been done regarding this project? Are there concrete guarantees from the contractors and investors? What if an ecological collapse occurs? Who will be responsible for damages, water loss, and the destruction of one of the most valuable natural parts of Herzegovina?
A particular concern is the fact that authorities in the Republic of Croatia, despite knowing that the Metković area and the lower Neretva region are directly threatened, have taken no action or are unwilling to do anything to protect their citizens and ecosystems dependent on the same water regime. The rivers Buna, Bunica, and Bregava are not just water. They are identity. They are home, source of life, tradition, and culture. Ignoring the risks and delaying responses could mean a loss that can never be compensated.
Therefore, we demand:
- Urgent response from the competent authorities,
- Transparent information about the real risks,
- An independent ecological assessment,
- Official guarantees of responsibility in case of ecological damage.
It is our duty to speak out now, while there is still time to prevent a catastrophe.
