EBRD and EU support energy-efficiency improvements in Tuzla

• EBRD’s €8 million loan and EU’s €2 million grant to boost energy efficiency in up to 173 public buildings in Tuzla Canton
• Project to involve implementation of energy-efficiency measures and renovations to remedy structural issues and improve comfort levels
• Tuzla Canton joins EBRD’s Green Cities programme

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are scaling up support for energy-efficiency improvements to public buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a new financing package for Tuzla Canton.

The investment, which includes an €8 million EBRD loan and a €2 million investment grant from the EU through the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP), will finance refurbishment and energy-efficiency measures for up to 173 buildings in the country’s largest canton.

The project involves the implementation of energy-efficiency and renovation measures in a wide range of public buildings, including schools, health centres, administrative buildings and sports halls. The works will include the thermal insulation of walls, roofs and ceilings, as well as the replacement of windows and energy sources for heating and the installation of modern lighting.

Thanks to the project, the energy and maintenance costs of these buildings will be lowered, leading to significant energy savings. By reducing demand for fossil fuels as an energy source and replacing heavily polluting sources (such as coal) where possible with more sustainable energy sources (such as biomass), the project will also lead to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

With this investment, Tuzla Canton joins EBRD Green Cities – a flagship programme that is the Bank’s main tool for supporting cities and regions in transitioning to a green, low-carbon and resilient future through targeted investments, policy actions and capacity building. As part of its participation, with EBRD support, Tuzla will develop and implement a green city action plan (GCAP), setting out its priority environmental and climate challenges and identifying the investments and policy actions required to address them. The EBRD expects to assist in the fulfilment of identified priorities as well.

Elena Gordeeva, Director of the EBRD’s Infra Europe department, said: “Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is one of our priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country where buildings are major consumers of energy. These projects not only help improve environmental standards, but also support the local economy by creating jobs and opportunities in the construction sector. I am delighted that Tuzla Canton has joined our flagship EBRD Green Cities programme. Welcome to the family!”

The EBRD and the EU are supporting the Western Balkans in improving energy efficiency in both residential and public buildings with dedicated loans and investment grants channelled through the REEP. To date, the programme has financed energy-efficiency measures in 34,000 households and 540 public buildings across the region. Launched in 2013 in cooperation with the EBRD and German development bank KfW, the programme is the EU’s key instrument for green investment in the region.