TUZLA, April 21 (FENA) – The Government of the Tuzla Canton and the United Nations Development Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP) signed today the Memorandum of Understanding and created preconditions for cooperation between these institutions with a focus on energy efficiency in the next five-year cycle.
The Memorandum, signed by TC Prime Minister Kadrija Hodžić and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in BiH Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, has as its primary goal to improve the efficiency of development efforts, and to set a framework and facilitate cooperation in sustainable and inclusive development, governance and the rule of law, as well as provision of public services.
Today’s presentation of the Energy Renewal Program includes 408 public buildings under the jurisdiction of the Tuzla Canton, and certain activities have already begun.
More than 80 percent of buildings of this number are primary, secondary schools and colleges, one part relates to courts and health care institutions, and the energy renovation project involves funds for heating and lighting.
“The Tuzla Canton Government is entering a completely new phase of development and cooperation with UNDP. This implies two unique programs in BiH. We presented one today and it is about the energy renovation of public facilities in Tuzla, and the other is the decarbonization of the housing stock in TC,” said the Prime Minister of TC Kadrija Hodžić.
The first program addresses 408 public buildings, which are 40 to 50 years old, and the Prime Minister of TC points out that this project implies large savings for TC.
“We have huge problems with thermal insulation heating, leaks. In this way, we are reducing the six and a half million that we have given so far for the energy disposal of these buildings by 2.8 million KM per year,” Hodžić points out.
UNDP will provide technical support in the execution of works on 35 public buildings in Tuzla Canton.
“The project activities will contribute to the implementation of UNDP’s climate promises in BiH and the fulfillment of more ambitious nationally determined contribution targets (NDCs),” said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in BiH Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov.
He believes that in addition to environmental protection and decarbonization, this is a good business opportunity. He emphasized that in 4 to 5 years, all invested funds will be returned through savings on energy bills and energy savings. He mentioned that this project has special benefits when it comes to the health system.
