site.btaHarmful Emissions Down by Nearly 8,130 Tonnes per Year Thanks to Energy Efficiency Programme

Sofia, November 29 (BTA) - Harmful emissions have dropped by nearly 8,130 tonnes per year, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova told a conference at Sofia's Central Military Club on Wednesday. She was presenting the results of the implementation of the BG04 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programme in its first programming period, and described these as very good.

Petkova said that over 50 beneficiaries took part in the programme and over 26 million leva were used for the implementation of projects during the first programing period.

The next programming period begins in early 2018. "Within this period, the resource already provided is significantly bigger and exceeds nearly two-fold the one provided by our partners in the first programming period," Petkova specified. In her words, the sum for which projects can apply is slightly over 64 million leva.

The Energy Minister said that in the second programming period applications will be accepted from municipalities and regional administrations, and there will be an opportunity to improve the energy efficiency parameters in kindergartens, hospitals, and schools.

The BG04 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programme is funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 based on a memorandum of understanding between Bulgaria and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. It covers two programme areas: Energy Efficiency (Programme Area 5) and Renewable Energy (Programme Area 6) of the European Economic Area, and was approved on December 20, 2012.