USAID Allocated Grant Funds For The Modernization Of The Sombor Heating Plant

Belgrade, August 2, 2022 – As a part of the "Better Energy" Activity, financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the first grant agreement was signed today in Sombor with PUC Energana Sombor. 

The memorandum on the allocation of grant was signed by the Chief of Party of the "Better Energy" Activity, Daniel Berg, and the Director of PUC Energana, Djuradj Milanovic.

In front of the City of Sombor, the signing was atended by the deputy mayor Ljiljana Tica and member of the City Council for communal activities and investments, Djordje Zoric.

"Utilising the USAID funds, we are able to allocate grant funds of up to 120 thousand US dollars, i.e. about 13.5 million dinars, which will be used to help modernize and automate equipment in PUC Energana Sombor’s heating network.  Technical experts estimate that these upgrades should save approximately 15-20 percent of heat production annually, thus reducing the company’s need to import gas", said Mr. Berg during the signing.

The director of PUC "Energana" Đurađ Milanović announced that the new software will start with working from October 1. "The software will work on the optimization of gas consumption, so that we manage to consume less gas through complex computer processes, to be more energy efficient, to the benefit of citizens, as they will get the same amount of heat with lower gas consumption, which means their gas bills would be lower," explained Milanović.

The Better Energy activity focuses on improving energy efficiency at the municipal level and increasing the use of renewable energy resources. The project will work to address a lack of incentives and limited investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency and will address the issue of inefficient use of energy resources by working in cooperation with local public and private partners.