UNDP in BiH and Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton Invest One Million KM in Reconstruction of 20 Schools

(Patria) - Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH Victor Munteanu and Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Zenica-Doboj Canton Mirza Mušija signed an agreement today at the Prime Minister's Office on joint investment of approximately 1,000,000 KM for the reconstruction of 20 schools in this canton.

Prime Minister Pivić expressed satisfaction that UNDP in BiH will once again be a partner to this canton in the project of improving school conditions, stating that this agreement has created the foundation for cooperation on such projects in the future.

- This agreement will practically cover all schools where decarbonization has not been carried out. We are aware that green energy is important. We are witnessing that Zenica is the warmest city in BiH these days, and in that regard, we need to do everything on our part to contribute to reducing harmful gas emissions, as well as to create the most favorable conditions for our children - said Prime Minister Pivić.

The Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton will be one of the implementing partners of the UNDP BiH project "Increasing Investments in Public Buildings with Low Carbon Emissions (Low-Carbon)" financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), within which the replacement of fossil fuel boilers with environmentally friendly fuels will be carried out. Zenica-Doboj Canton will financially participate with slightly less than 50 percent of the total amount, i.e., with 460,000 KM, while a slightly larger amount will be financed through the UNDP in BiH Low-Carbon project.

- We are implementing the project together with our international donors and with their support. Such agreements represent initial and significant steps in building a better future by creating better conditions for children and youth in BiH - emphasized Munteanu.

He noted that this project, which Bosnia and Herzegovina and UNDP in BiH are implementing with the Green Climate Fund, has a total value of approximately 122 million US dollars. The project's goal is to reduce about two million tons of carbon emissions, which is significant for Zenica-Doboj Canton, one of the mining regions with high coal consumption.

He announced that through the implementation of insulation measures within the UNDP BiH project, losses of about 60 percent of the money invested in heating buildings will be reduced, and that this money can be used for other purposes.

Minister Mušija announced that the project will cover at least 20 school buildings, but if there is money left, they will continue replacing boilers in other schools where this has not been done so far.

- In the coming period, we will strive to replace boilers and energy sources in all schools in Zenica-Doboj Canton that are heated by coal or fuel oil - said Mušija.

After signing the contract, representatives of the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton and UNDP visited the recently reconstructed Elementary School "Miroslav Krleža" in Zenica.