EBRD and EU support Montenegro with €15 million to improve energy efficiency of hospitals and upgrade solar installations

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a loan of up to €12 million to the Montenegrin government to improve the energy efficiency of three hospital buildings. The funds, allocated to the Ministry of Health, are intended to support healthcare policies, strategies, and the maintenance and reconstruction of public hospitals.

In addition, the European Union will provide EUR 2 million for an investment grant under the EU-EBRD Western Balkans Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP) and EUR 1 million for technical assistance for project preparation and implementation.

The funding will be used for various energy efficiency measures, including the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, improving building efficiency and potentially integrating renewable energy technologies such as solar power. The hospitals benefiting from these improvements are the Podgorica Clinical Centre, the Cetinje Hospital and the Bijelo Polje Hospital.

The project aims to improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, increasing the structural integrity of hospitals. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, achieving primary energy savings of more than 30 percent compared to baseline levels.

The signing ceremony was attended by Montenegrin Minister of Finance Novica Vuković, Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun, Remon Zakaria, Head of Montenegro at the EBRD, and Sue Barrett, Director of Infrastructure for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at the EBRD.

Novica Vuković, Minister of Finance of Montenegro, expressed satisfaction with the partnership, underlining the importance of energy efficiency as a priority for Montenegro’s energy policy. EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa welcomed the investment, underlining its contribution to the efficiency of the healthcare system and the green agenda.

Sue Barrett noted that the project could pave the way for similar investments in public buildings, bringing significant benefits to both society and the environment through improved energy efficiency and sustainability.

Since Montenegro joined the EBRD in 2006, the Bank has invested over €800 million in 86 projects, focusing on supporting competitiveness, green transformation and regional and global market integration.

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