Jems
As part of the SMART STEP project, the Ministry of Economy of Tuzla Canton and the Centre for Development and Support (CRP) Tuzla organised a public presentation of research results on the energy performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tuzla Canton on 23 April 2026.
The event focused on the findings of a field-based assessment and classification of SMEs according to energy intensity, providing valuable evidence for future measures supporting energy efficiency and decarbonisation in the productive business sector. The research covered enterprises from the plastics, metal and furniture sectors and highlighted major differences in energy performance both across and within sectors.
The findings showed significant variations in specific energy consumption per unit of input raw material, as well as differing energy-consumption structures among sectors. In some cases, electricity was identified as the dominant energy source, while in others thermal energy played a more prominent role. The results also confirmed a relatively limited share of renewable energy sources and continued dependence on fossil fuels in several sectors.
A particularly important result of the activity is the introduction of an SME energy classification system on a scale from A to G. This classification provides a practical basis for identifying enterprises with strong performance that can serve as examples of good practice, as well as those requiring priority support through technical assistance and financial instruments. The presentation also underlined that future support measures should be differentiated and tailored to sector-specific characteristics rather than based on a one-size-fits-all approach.
The results generated through this activity will serve as a foundation for the development of an action plan for the energy transition of SMEs in Tuzla Canton and for broader support mechanisms to be shaped within the project framework.
SMART STEP – Smart Solutions in Energy Transition of Productive Businesses – is implemented under the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 by the Centre for Development and Support (CRP) Tuzla, Tuzla Canton, Brod-Posavina County and the University of Slavonski Brod.
The project contributes to the programme objective of promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by developing a common evidence base, improving institutional capacities and creating long-term support mechanisms for the energy transition of SMEs in the cross-border area.
