New equipment helps Knjaz Miloš achieve energy savings

Energy efficiency is the best energy source. Companies that reduce energy consumption for the same level of output have smaller expenses, which makes them more competitive. Serbian beverage producer Knjaz Miloš upgraded its production line with the help of UniCredit Leasing Serbia, a partner financial institution of GEFF Serbia Leasing.

Knjaz Miloš is located in Aranđelovac, where two centuries ago, in Bukovička Spa, it constructed the first factory in Serbia for bottling mineral water. The company is among the largest mineral water, soft drink, and energy drink producers in the Balkans. Its portfolio includes well-known carbonated natural mineral water Knjaz Miloš, but also other brands, such as Aqua Viva, Guarana, Tube, Remix Knjaz, Gusto, and Golf.

One of the company’s essential criteria when it comes to development and expansion is energy efficiency, in line with its sustainable development goals and responsible business conduct principles.

Such measures usually also lower the carbon footprint, adding to efforts to mitigate climate change. But they may also cut costs, as producers in the European Union have to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions, while carbon pricing is being introduced in more and more countries around the world.

New juice treatment, carbonization unit

With this in mind, Knjaz Miloš approached UniCredit Leasing Serbia in order to procure new beverage carbonization equipment.

UniCredit Leasing Serbia is a partner financial institution of Green Economy Financing Facility Serbia Leasing – GEFF Serbia Leasing. The GEFF team of engineers assessed the potential of energy savings and financial and technical parameters of the project.

The investment is worth EUR 594,000

Knjaz Miloš is set to achieve primary energy savings of 75 MWh per year with its new juice treatment and carbonization unit, worth EUR 594,000. Electricity consumption per product unit is reduced by 35%.

In addition, the new equipment reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 56 tons of CO₂ per year. Total savings are estimated at EUR 17,000 per year.

Responsible production alongside environmental protection

“Considering that sustainable and green development represents a goal we can reach only when we are united, through good cooperation along the value chain, we are thankful for the opportunities that banks, producers of efficient equipment, and all other partners create. We all share the mission of responsible production and environmental protection,” says Milana Petrović, Public and Corporate Affairs Manager at the Knjaz Miloš company.

GEFF Serbia Leasing was developed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and is supported by the Green Climate Fund and the Government of Luxembourg.

GEFF Serbia Leasing and UniCredit Leasing Serbia recently financed the investment of agricultural cooperative Graničar from Šid in high-performance tractors.