Sarajevo gets EUR 35 million in loans for greener public transport

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EBRD have signed two loan agreements supported under the lender’s Green Cities program for public transport in Sarajevo.

The investments will help Sarajevo, one of the cities that have the most polluted air not only in the region but in the entire world, to tackle this problem. The projects will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 30% in the capital of BiH.

The projects will reduce CO2 emission by more than 30%

A EUR 20 million loan will finance the overhaul of the 19.5 km-long dual-track tramline run by the cantonal public transport operator Gradski saobraćaj (GRAS).

The current tram network is almost 50 years old and with no major improvements in decades, it has deteriorated significantly. New tracks will improve the network and enable the purchase of new, cleaner trams, according to the EBRD website.

EUR 15 million loan will allow GRAS to buy up to 25 new electric trolleybuses

The second loan, of up to EUR 15 million, will allow GRAS to buy up to 25 new electric trolleybuses. The upgraded trolleybus fleet will also consume approximately 50% less electricity, resulting in significant cost savings and environmental benefits, the bank said.

EBRD Green Cities supports local authorities in urban areas in addressing environmental issues and improving the quality of life of their residents. All participants embark on a trigger project to improve their local environment.

37 cities including Belgrade, Izmir, Novi Sad, Sofia and Tirana have signed up to EBRD Green Cities

Then, with EBRD’s help, they develop a green city action plan (GCAP), creating a tailor-made list of further environmental investments and policy changes that will address their environmental challenges.

Sarajevo Canton joined the program in May 2017. The GCAP has identified investment in urban public infrastructure as one of the priorities.

Sarajevo is the third city in BiH to become a member of EBRD Green Cities

Sarajevo is the third member of EBRD Green Cities in BiH, after Banja Luka and Zenica. The program also includes investments in the water supply network.

To date, 37 cities in all regions where the bank operates– including cities in the region Belgrade, Craiova, Izmir, Novi Sad, Podgorica, Pristina, Pula, Skopje, Sofia, Tirana, and Varna, have signed up to EBRD Green Cities and more action plans are under preparation. The network is also supported by the Green Climate Fund.