The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering granting a loan of up to 38.5 million euros to the public company Elektroprivreda Bosnia and Herzegovina (EPBiH) for the development, construction, and operation of two adjacent solar photovoltaic power plants (total 50 MWp) located in the town of Gracanica in the municipality of Bugojno.
It is interesting that the solar power plants will be built on top of a renovated mine that was previously used for coal mining.
Namely, the total loan amount of up to 38.5 million euros would be co-financed by the EBRD and a commercial co-lender (either as a participant in the loan or as a provider of a parallel loan).
This will be one of the first solar energy projects developed by EPBiH as the company focuses on investing in renewable energy sources as part of its decarbonization agenda.
The project would significantly contribute to EPBiH’s renewable energy portfolio (excluding large hydropower plants), and would also, during construction, create employment opportunities in BiH‘s regions that rely heavily on coal mining.
It is expected that the project will reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 32,000 tons of CO2 per year, with an increase in electricity production, especially for the summer period, and greater availability of water for adaptation to climate change.
These power plants will add up to 0.4 percent of the annual national electricity production to the power system of BiH, Biznis Info reports.
E.Dz.
