prijava
SARAJEVO, April 10 (FENA) - A micro credit foundation ‘Partner’ today in Sarajevo announced that it has agreed a loan of 10 million KM approved by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to fund energy efficiency measures in the housing sector.
The funds from this loan are intended for thermal insulation of buildings, replacement of windows and doors, purchase of pellet and biomass boilers and solar collectors, photovoltaic panels, heating pumps, energy saving lighting and other measures that bring savings.
General Manager of the foundation Senad Sinanović said that this loan represents an exceptional opportunity because 47 percent of BiH citizens do not have a bank account and microcredit organizations are a chance for them to have access to financing.
“We have issued 400,000 loans worth 1.5 billion KM in the last 21 years, and energy efficiency projects in BiH are potentially worth 5 billion KM,” Sinanović said.
Head of EBRD Office in BiH, Ian Braun, said that investing in energy efficiency in residential buildings allows savings through lower energy costs and making their homes more enjoyable.
EBRD last year approved loans for the same purpose through UniCredit Bank, Mostar and UniCredit Bank, Banja Luka, and Sparkasse Bank, Braun said today adding that it was early to talk about the results of those loan projects.
The funds have been approved under the EBRD's Green Economy Financing Facility Program (GEFF) for the Western Balkans worth EUR 85 million.
The funds and technical assistance to support investments in green technology will be provided by the European Union, the Federal Ministry of Finance of Austria and the European Common Fund for Western Balkans within the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans and in cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat.
(FENA) S. R.
