Overview
In 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina was not a globally significant producer of mineral commodities. The mining and quarrying sector contributed 1.2% (\$351 million) in gross value to the country’s gross domestic product (\$29.6 billion). Mineral commodities produced in the country included alumina, aluminum, bauxite, bentonite, cement, ferroalloys, gypsum, iron ore, pig iron, kaolin, lead, lime, salt, sand and gravel, silicon, silver, soda ash, raw steel, stone, and zinc.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is composed of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska. These entities separately govern the mining industry in their respective regions through their own agencies and policies. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in FBiH is provided by the Law on Concessions No. 40/02, as amended by Law No. 61/06; the Law on Geological Exploration No. 9/10; and the Law on Mining No. 26/10. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Republika Srpska is provided by the Law on Mining of Republika Srpska No. 59/12; the Law on Concessions No. 59/13, amended by Law Nos. 16/18, 70/20, and 111/21; and the Law on Geological Research No. 110/13. In the FBiH, the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry implements mining policy. It oversees the Department of Mining, which, among its other responsibilities, drafts mining and geology laws, reviews mining projects for approval, manages databases on mineral raw material reserves, and maintains a cadaster of exploration areas and exploitation fields. In Republika Srpska, the equivalent body is the Department of Mining and Geology, which operates under the Ministry of Energy and Mining. Most mineral commodities were produced by privately owned foreign companies.
