AAFS Vice President Jesse Binnall, after a meeting with Federal Minister Vedran Lakić, stated that the company is focused on finalizing the contract soon, while Lakić emphasized that the project is not only energy-related but also a security one.
The American company AAFS Infrastructure and Energy is not giving up on the construction of the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and plans to engage in the country for a period of half a century. This was stated on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by the company's Vice President Jesse Binnall, a former attorney for US President Donald Trump, following a meeting with the Federal Minister of Energy, Mining, and Industry, Vedran Lakić.
From the ministry, it was announced that the talks focused on finalizing the remaining activities and signing the contract between the Federation of BiH and AAFS, which would regulate the implementation of this capital project. The statement notes that Binnall emphasized AAFS's insistence on concluding the contract with the Federation Government as soon as possible.
After the meeting, Minister Lakić stated that the contract must protect the interests of the Federation of BiH and ensure a stable gas supply from an alternative source at more competitive prices. "The Southern Interconnection is not just an energy project but also a security one. The contract must protect the interests of the Federation of BiH and ensure a stable supply of gas from an alternative source at more competitive prices for our citizens and economy," Lakić said.
Binnall emphasized his company's long-term commitment to this endeavor. "We continue to start work on this key project to deliver stable and competitive energy from various sources to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our company is focused on successfully concluding this contract and beginning a long-term, 50-year commitment to the people of BiH," Binnall said.
The statement did not clarify whether the mentioned 50 years refers to the duration of the concession for the construction and management of the pipeline. In previous discussions about the project, a 30-year concession was mentioned, but the contract details have yet to be defined.
AAFS Infrastructure and Energy was founded in November 2025 in the US state of Wyoming. It is led by Joseph Flynn, the brother of Michael Flynn, who once served as Trump's national security advisor. Jesse Binnall, now in the role of investor, previously represented Trump's campaign in legal proceedings challenging the 2020 presidential election results in Nevada.
The Southern Interconnection plan aims to connect the gas networks of Croatia and BiH, which would give Bosnia and Herzegovina access to the LNG terminal on Krk via Croatian infrastructure, thereby reducing its complete dependence on Russian gas. The agreement on the pipeline's construction was signed on April 28, 2026, in Dubrovnik by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto. At the end of July, the Council of Ministers of BiH began the ratification process, and the agreement still needs approval from the BiH Presidency and both houses of the state parliament.
