Local governments get EUR 2.76 million from budget fund for energy efficiency

Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Aleksandar Antić has signed agreements with representatives of 24 local governments to receive a total of RSD 325 million (around EUR 2.76 million) from Serbia’s budget fund for improving energy efficiency.

The energy efficiency funds have been allocated to Trgovište, Surdulica, Subotica, Bela Palanka, Majdanpek, Alibunar, Zemun, Svilajnac, Raška, Kanjiža, Irig, Petrovac na Mlavi, Čačak, Mionica, Valjevo, Despotovac, Lučani, Malo Crniće, Kruševac, Ljubovija, Ćuprija, Niš, and Knić, according to a statement from Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy.

 The projects are worth a total of RSD 490 million (about EUR 4.16 million)

The projects are to implement energy efficiency measures at public buildings such as schools, kindergartens, and primary health care institutions.

The total value of the projects is RSD 490 million (around EUR 4.16 million), of which RSD 325 million (EUR 2.76 million) is to be financed from Serbia’s budget fund for energy efficiency and RSD 165 million (EUR 1.4 million) by the local governments themselves, according to the statement.

Ministar @AAnticBG potpisao ugovore sa predstavnicima 24 lokalne samouprave koje će iz Budžetskog fonda za unapređenje energetske efikasnosti dobiti 325 miliona dinara bespovratnih sredstava
Projekti unapređenja en.efikasnosti
su u vrhu prioriteta energetske politike Srbije ?? pic.twitter.com/POIfhdjy7M

— mre (@MiningEnergyRS) June 17, 2019

Antić said that the projects are expected to reduce the buildings’ annual energy consumption by 8.2 million kWh, or around EUR 490,000, and cut CO2 emissions by 3,300 tonnes annually.

The projects are expected to reduce the buildings’ annual energy consumption by 8.2 million kWh and cut CO2 emissions by 3,300 tonnes annually

Since 2014, the budget fund for energy efficiency has financed energy efficiency measures at 53 public buildings owned by local governments in Serbia, resulting in energy savings of 40%, he said.

The Energy Efficiency Fund is expected to be formed by the end of the year, he went on to say, adding that the fund will enable financing not only energy efficiency in public buildings, but also households and commercial facilities.

The fund will initially have a EUR 20 million budget, said Antić, noting that the EU’s assistance is expected, as well as that the fund will be financed with energy efficiency fee receipts.