Swedish government continues to support energy efficiency in BiH

The Government of Sweden adds EUR 720,000 to the current project on energy efficiency in public sector buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

An Amendment to the Agreement of the Green Economic Development – GED programme in the field of energy efficiency was signed by Sezin Sinanoglu and Marie Bergström on behalf of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH and the Embassy of Sweden in Sarajevo respectively, reads the press release published by the two parties.

At this moment, BiH spends about 20 percent of its GDP on energy, which is three times more than in European countries. Up to 50 percent of public budgets can be saved by strengthening the capacity and reducing energy costs in the public sector. UNDP implements the Green Economic Development – GED programme countrywide since 2014 with the main goal to scale up energy efficiency in the public sector buildings across Bosnia and Herzegovina and create a favourable environment for the future investments in energy efficiency.

“I believe that new activities in terms of modernization of public lighting will in short time show tangible results and serve as a good example for the implementation of similar projects across the country,” said Sezin Sinanoglu, the UNDP resident representative in BiH.

The additional funds will ensure continued and increased reduction of energy costs in the public sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina by enabling the introduction of energy efficient measures in more public buildings during 2017. In addition, the funds should ensure piloting of energy efficiency in public lighting systems in BiH.

“Sweden is firmly committed to supporting projects that protect the environment and reduce the negative impact of climate change, such as this project. It supports a sustainable platform for energy efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina and brings comfort in renovated buildings, but also saves the public budget, creates new jobs and protects the environment,” added Marie Bergström, head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden.

The signed amendment to the agreement worth will make the total contribution of the Kingdom of Sweden to the programme over EUR 5.5 million. This country has been supporting the GED program since 2015 as a partner to UNDP. Other partners on the programme worth EUR 11.8 million in total are the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Environmental Protection Fund of the BiH, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund of the RS as well as cantonal and entity ministries.