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Miroslav Drljača
Episode · #388

POSLOVNA ŠPICA Miroslav Drljača

Guest Miroslav DrljačaHosted by Saša PetarMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

When global events escalate, the language we use to describe them often becomes as charged as the situation itself. The host of this episode begins by framing the conflict in Ukraine as a "civilizational clash," but Miroslav Drljača, a seasoned expert in quality management and transport technology, quickly reorients the discussion. With three decades of management experience in critical infrastructure like Zagreb Airport, Drljača brings a grounded, data-driven perspective to the economic realities of global instability. He is not just an academic; he's an operator who understands how geopolitical tremors translate into tangible shifts in energy prices, supply chains, and national budgets. His insights reveal how countries like Croatia, with specific energy dependencies, must adapt to a new economic context. This conversation will make you rethink how to interpret complex global events, moving past emotionally charged rhetoric to focus on the concrete operational and strategic adjustments businesses and governments must make to navigate uncertainty.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Asked to comment on a "civilizational conflict," Drljača immediately reframes it as "too strong a word" with "no place here." The first step in addressing any crisis is to strip away emotional language and define the problem in pragmatic, economic terms.
02
Drljača points out that energy sources like gas and oil become "strategic weapons" in global power struggles. When major players clash, essential commodities are used as leverage, distorting fundamental economic laws like supply and demand.
03
Croatia produces only 40% of its gas, 20% of its oil, and 58-75% of its electricity domestically. Hard data on a nation's, or any organization's, resource dependence is the non-negotiable baseline for developing a realistic resilience strategy.
04
The rising cost of energy translates directly to "increased input costs for all producers." Energy is no longer merely an operational expense; its volatility is a core risk that can quickly invalidate existing production budgets and business models.
05
Achieving energy independence, Drljača argues, requires "additional projects" like expanding LNG terminals and leveraging wind, sun, and sea power. True independence comes from a diversified, locally-sourced portfolio, not just a shift to "green" sources whose full supply chain might still be carbon-intensive or externally dependent.
06
Drljača highlights that the consequences of climate change are "felt anew every year," manifesting as extreme weather and "enormous" damages. Climate change is no longer a future threat but an immediate, financially material operational reality, demanding proactive and data-driven adaptation strategies.
07
European policy, with long-term targets stretching to 2050, has driven a significant increase in renewable energy use, from 8.53% in 2004 to 19.73% in the EU by 2019. Long-term policy commitments, even over decades, are powerful drivers for measurable, systemic shifts in national energy infrastructure and economic strategy.