Today, the Minister of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of Republic of Srpska, Srebrenka Golić, talked with the Country Manager of the World Bank for BiH, Tatiana Proskuryakova. The main topics at the meeting were the two projects implemented through the Ministry and financed by the World Bank funds.
Speaking about the project “Second Solid Waste Management Project” providing funds for building regional sanitary landfills in Banja Luka, Prijedor, Zvornik and Bijeljina, Madam Minister Golić pointed out that the Republic of Srpska Government was making great efforts to govern the field of waste management in the best possible way, given the current financial circumstances. She informed the Country Manager of the World Bank for BiH that the Waste Management Act, adopted in December 2013, reflects European directives to a significant degree and that the Republic of Srpska Waste Management Strategy is underway, which will define key guidelines for disposal of all types of waste. “Upon completion of the Strategy, we will be working on developing the Waste Management Plan which will define key details in this field and provide guidelines for development of local communities waste management plans”, said Madam Minister Golić.
During the talks, special attention was given to the Energy Efficiency Project in BiH, which is in its final phase of preparation and the effectiveness of which is expected rather soon. Development objective of this project is to demonstrate benefits resulting from increasing the energy efficiency in the public sector buildings and to provide support for development of adjustable energy efficiency financing models.
Under the scope of the project, retrofitting of 30 to 40 facilities is expected (schools, hospitals, healthcare centres and similar), thus improving working conditions and conditions of stay for students, teachers, doctors, patients and other beneficiaries. At the same time, energy consumption per each facility will be reduced, which will directly affect reduction of costs in the budget. Through implementation of this project there will be investments initiated in the building sector and thus in the production and services businesses that inevitably follow building activities.
Within the Republic of Srpska Fund for environmental protection and energy efficiency, a database on public facilities, permits and energy certificates will be created through implementation of the Energy Efficiency Project.
Particular emphasis has been put on increased awareness of citizens on the need for energy efficiency improvement, resulting from implementation of this project, which will, as expected, have an impact on reduced energy consumption and better environmental protection.
Madam Minister Golić pointed out that implementation of this Project creates better foundations for attracting grants for financing energy efficiency.
Country Manager of the World Bank for BiH, Tatiana Proskuryakova, pointed out that she was pleased with the current cooperation with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of Republic of Srpska, as well as with the engagement of the employees of the Ministry in the projects’ implementation.