site.btaSMEs to Implement 229 EU-Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Sofia, August 24 (BTA) - Grants of over 165 million leva will fund 229 projects under Operational Programme Innovations and Competitiveness (OPIC). Deputy Economy Minister Alexander Manolev Thursday presented contracts to beneficiaries under a procedure for energy efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Manolev said those contracts brought the OPIC funding used to support enterprises to 1.5 billion-plus leva, about 63 per cent of the programme's budget. So far 1,458 contracts have been signed under OPIC, of which 500 have been completed and paid to the beneficiaries.

The selected projects are predominantly in energy-intensive industries (chemicals; steel; cement, ceramics, glass and lime; non-ferrous metals; and paper). Projects for the Northwestern Planning Region were also given a priority.