Pavkov: 50 mln euro agreements signed with EBRD to improve air quality

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Environmental Protection Sara Pavkov and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali signed two agreements with EBRD Western Balkans Director Matteo Colangeli under which substantial funds will soon be invested in a series of air quality protection projects in several Serbian cities.

Pavkov said Mali had signed an agreement on a 50 mln euro credit line aimed at improving air quality in Novi Pazar, Belgrade, Valjevo, Smederevo, Zajecar and Nis, while she signed an agreement on projects to be bankrolled with the funds.

"In those cities, we will be replacing old, worn-down boiler rooms using mazut, coal and other fuels that have a negative impact on air quality with modern and sustainable heat sources, such as heat pumps, biomass and industrial waste heat, and switch to remote heating systems or (natural) gas where conditions for that exist," Pavkov said.

She noted that the series of projects was a culmination of the government's years-long work.