January 15, 2020 - At a press conference held on Tuesday, Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara and his associates presented the largest project of energy-efficient public lighting in Croatia - "Modernizing public lighting of the City of Split using the energy service model".
The Mayor stressed the excellent cooperation between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) consultants and the City of Split project team, who worked together on a solution that resulted in a major reconstruction project and a proposal for modernizing the public lighting system.
"This is a significant project that will not only improve the quality of life in our city, but will also raise standards in an ecological aspect and increase the level of safety of our citizens. Therefore, ecology, energy savings and security are the guiding principles of all activities in this project,” said Opara. City Development and EU Funds Advisor to the Mayor, Kresimir Budisa, explained that the project covers 15,090 lamps or 88 percent of public lighting, with a total investment value of HRK 62 million. He said that the project includes not only the area of Split but also Slatine, Zrnovnica, Stobrec and Sitno Gornje and Donje.
"Annual energy savings and maintenance of public lighting systems are expected to amount to as much as HRK 6.2 million," Budisa said. According to him, the modernization of public lighting in the city of Split includes, among other things, introducing modern and energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the city area, reducing the cost of public lighting and reducing CO2 emissions. It also includes restoring lighting and raising safety in the Marjan tunnel traffic corridor and modernizing lighting on children's playgrounds and sports and recreational areas for citizens.
Budisa also recalled the EU project CitiEnGov, a smart public lighting pilot project implemented in the GK Bacvice, which has proven to be one of the best examples of modernizing public lighting in Central Europe using the latest technologies with exceptional results in reducing electricity consumption, increasing convenience and safety for citizens and visitors, as well as reducing CO2 emissions.
The project presented was prepared with the help of free technical assistance provided by the EBRD, and the proposed financing for the said project is through the Energy Services Model (ESCO). The presentation was also attended by Radojka Tomasevic, Head of the International and EU Projects Department, Hrvoje Jazvic, EBRD representative, and Mate Rebić, EBRD consultant.
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