Sarajevo Canton greenlights introduction of heating pumps in district heating

The Government of Sarajevo Canton approved the capital project Sarajevo Toplane – District Heating, worth EUR 50 million, for the introduction of large heat pumps.

The initiative to use heat pumps in the district heating system in Sarajevo is a joint activity of the city authorities and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the goal is to reduce air pollution and the use of fossil fuels.

The Sarajevo Toplane – District Heating project envisages two components that can be implemented in stages or simultaneously, the Government of the Sarajevo Canton said.

The plan is to install two heat pumps with a capacity of 18 MW each

The first phase is for the installation of an 18 MW heat pump in Butile, preparatory activities, the construction of a 6.5-kilometer long pipeline from Butile to the boiler house in the Alipašino Polje neighborhood, and a two-kilometer pipeline from boiler room K5 to the boiler room in Alipašino Polje. The idea is to improve the efficiency of the existing heating system in Alipašino Polje.

The second phase envisages the installation of a second 18 MW heat pump in Butile and the construction of a 6.5-kilometer pipeline from the boiler room in Alipašino Polje to the boiler rooms in Otoka, Čengić Vila 2, Hrasno, and Grbavica.

Both phases would include the modernization of substations and the installation of economizers on the boilers that would be kept for back up, at times of maximum load, when outside temperatures are the lowest.

EBRD has issued the report on financing sources and total costs, divided by phases, the cantonal authorities added.

The Ministry of Utility Operations, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Environmental Protection reached an agreement with the international lender on the continuation of the project, they pointed out in the announcement.

Minister Bečarević: The possibility now opens for the EBRD to secure funds for the preparation of project documentation

Minister Almir Bečarević said the EBRD would work on mobilizing grants for the preparation of a feasibility study to assess the possibilities for sludge treatment in the Butile wastewater treatment plant.

Of note, the authorities earlier said the heat pumps would utilize drinking and wastewater.

With the start of the procedure, the possibility now opens for the EBRD to secure funds for the preparation of project documentation for the complete project of introducing heat pumps into the district heating system in Sarajevo Canton, he explained.

Bečarević stressed the canton’s budget would provide for value-added tax payments and other costs as defined in the deal.