KS and EBRD Begin Project Implementation: Heat Production from Wastewater

(Patria) - Production of heat energy from wastewater and electricity from sludge-Butile, and the formation of a fund for financing the insulation of residential buildings of individuals and collective housing units, are two significant projects being launched by the Ministry of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton with the EBRD.

Regarding the first project, heat pumps will be installed at the Butile facility, which will use wastewater to produce heat energy that will be used in the Toplane system as a substitute for imported natural gas.

The project will be implemented according to the recommendations from the feasibility study prepared for this purpose. As part of this project, the sludge management system at the Butile wastewater treatment plant, which currently poses a problem, will also be further analyzed, it was stated.

"On behalf of the Ministry and the KS Government, I express my gratitude to the EBRD, as they will embark on the implementation of two very important projects with us, which mean improvement for all citizens of Sarajevo Canton, primarily for those connected to the central heating system. This is a new heating system for part of the residential buildings in the Sarajevo heating plant system, through which Sarajevo Canton will move towards energy independence by gradually phasing out natural gas as an imported energy source, which was previously needed in the operation of the Sarajevo heating plant. We now have a situation where many of our fellow citizens want to disconnect from the central heating system due to high bills, and this approach achieves a dual effect. The first is the reduction of natural gas consumption as an imported energy source, and the second is a cheaper way to heat water, which will significantly reduce the costs of heat energy delivery. According to the study, with this system, Sarajevo heating plants would reduce their natural gas consumption by 20 million standard cubic meters of gas and would use water from the Butile treatment plant for the heat pump system that will be installed," explained the relevant minister, Almir Bečarević.

The value of this project is 50 million EUR, of which 15 million EUR would be grant funds secured through WBIF, which will be the subject of an application submitted through the EBRD.

Electricity production from wastewater sludge will also be implemented at the Butile facility, which will form an independent energy hub of paramount importance for Sarajevo Canton.

The second project in cooperation with the EBRD involves intensifying the insulation of residential buildings of individuals and collective housing units.

"The goal is that, through a model that already exists in Europe, the installation of thermal facades on buildings of individuals and collective housing units will be self-financed from energy savings, with a small additional payment. This would be a revolving fund, with a longer repayment period, up to 20 years, and during that period, through their own savings in the use of any form of energy, it would be possible to finance facades for all interested individuals. The goal is to reduce energy consumption in this way as well, regardless of the type of energy," emphasized the minister.

EBRD Director in BiH, Manuela Naessl, added that the purpose of establishing the fund is to increase energy efficiency in the residential sector, as well as to improve air quality, given that individual buildings using fossil fuels for heating are known to be the largest sources of air pollution during the heating season.

"One of the characteristics of the fund we want to develop together and are discussing today is the maturity period, as well as the loan terms that will be granted to residential building owners, which should enable the servicing, i.e., repayment, of the loans to be made from savings on heating bills," stated Naessl.