INTEGRATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA INTO THE GLOBAL FLOWS OF ENERGY GENERATING PRODUCTS

Zbivanja na globalnom energetskom tržištu, tržišna nestabilnost i sve veća uloga geopolitike u opskrbi energijom, relevantni su čimbenici koji kontinuirano utječu na formiranje tokova energenata na svjetskom tržištu, a posljedično i na formiranje i obilježja tokova energenata u Republici Hrvatskoj. Izravna uključenost u transportne tranzitne tokove energenata podrazumijeva stratešku prednost koja otvara velike ekonomske mogućnost, odnosno predstavlja važnu pretpostavku gospodarskog rasta i razvoja. Sukladno tome, u ovom se radu analizira integriranost Republike Hrvatske u svjetske tokove energenata i pripadajuću energetsku infrastrukturu, odnosno energetsku prometnu mrežu. S obzirom na strateški značaj nafte i plina kao energenata, posebno se analiziraju intenzitet, pravci i specifičnosti formiranja tokova nafte i plina, temeljem čega se iznose značajni zaključci o mogućnostima i prilikama integracije Republike Hrvatske u svjetske tokove energenata. Zaključno se analiziraju relevantni čimbenici i značajni projekti koji bi trebali pridonijeti afirmaciji tokova energenata i energetskoj sigurnosti Republike Hrvatske.Developments on the global energy generating products market, the market instability and the increasing role of geopolitics in the energy supply are the relevant factors that continuously affect the formation of the energy generating products flows on the market, and, consequently, the formation and features of the flows of energy in the Republic of Croatia. A direct involvement in the transit transport flows of energy generating products includes a strategic advantage that opens great economic opportunities and represents an important precondition for the economic growth and development. Accordingly, the article analyzes the integration of the Republic of Croatia into the world energy generating products trends and the appropriate energy infrastructure – that is, into the energy traffic network. Considering the strategic importance of oil and gas as energy generating products, the intensity and the specific directions in developing oil and gas flows are especially analyzed, and some significant conclusions about the possibilities and opportunities of the Croatian integration into the world energy flows are presented too. Finally, the paper aims at analyzing the relevant factors and important projects that should contribute to the recognition of the energy generating products flows in the Republic of Croatia, and to thus ensure a high supply of energy within the whole country