For the past ten years Croatia's development took place under the circumstances of socio-economic transition, unstable political situation and consequences of the war on its territory. Evidently, the twin goals of post-war reconstruction and further development of the country have called for an increase in energy production and consumption. It is estimated that by the year 2015 around 1500 MW of new electricity production capacity would be needed. Within the period from 1995 to 2000, energy consumption grew by 3.3 percent, electric power generation by 3.4 percent, while the GDP in the same period grew by 4 percent annually. In 1998, the overall primary energy consumption in Croatia amounted to 1849 kilograms of oil equivalent, which is among the lowest rates on the European scale.
Coal consumption is relatively low.
In the period between 1990-1998 coal consumption has decreased from 8.5 percent to 2.6 percent. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Croatia is a small country and its contribution to the problem of increases in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases on a global scale is negligible. Hence, Croatia also shares a joint responsibility towards our common environmental heritage. At the Kyoto conference, which constitutes a pioneering step in combating climate change, Croatia has taken responsibility in seeking the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. In line with this commitment, we expect to achieve 5 percent reduction of greenhouse gases emission in relation to the baseline year.