Reducing air pollution: Sarajevo Canton to subsidize replacement of stoves and boilers

(Patria) - The Government of Sarajevo Canton has approved the implementation of the pilot project "Subsidizing the replacement of coal and other solid fuel stoves in households in Sarajevo Canton with certified stoves and heat pumps".

The Minister of Spatial Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection of Sarajevo Canton, Faruk Kapidžić, has been authorized to sign an Agreement with UNDP, as the project implementer, in this regard.

"The goal of the project is to reduce air pollution in Sarajevo Canton, especially in suburban settlements where household solid fuel stoves are the dominant sources of pollution, by subsidizing the replacement of solid fuel stoves and small boilers, primarily those using coal for heating houses, which are, in the vast majority, inefficient and have high emissions of pollutants into the air, especially sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The purchase and installation of certified stoves and boilers using solid fuels, namely firewood and pellets, as well as the purchase of heat pumps, will be subsidized. Depending on the conditions at specific facilities, the type of heat pump will be determined, which will reduce air pollution, as well as energy consumption and heating costs for citizens," stated Minister Kapidžić.

According to him, replacing existing stoves with certified solid fuel stoves achieves a reduction of about 70 percent in dust emissions, contributes to the energy efficiency of heat production, and reduces fuel consumption by up to 30 percent. Replacing coal stoves and boilers achieves an almost 100 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions.

As stated, the next step is to define the criteria and procedure for selecting beneficiaries, designers, and suppliers of certified stoves and heat pumps in this pilot project, for the realization of which funds in the amount of 550,000 KM have been secured.