Over BGN 370 million are provided for energy renovation of public buildings

The National Plan for Reconstruction and Sustainability envisages over BGN 370 million for energy renovation of public buildings. BGN 1.2 billion have been set aside in the Plan for energy renovation of multi-family homes. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works - Grozdan Karadjov at a meeting with HE Yoram Elron - Ambassador of Israel to Bulgaria. The two discussed areas of mutual interest in which Bulgaria and Israel can co-operate.

"Energy efficiency is a priority of the Bulgarian government in all sectors, including the water sector. “Our goal is to replace the water supply and sewerage facilities with energy-saving ones, as well as to apply innovative solutions and technologies to reduce the cost of electricity for the water supply and sewerage service," explained Minister Karadjov.

Ambassador Elron stressed that our country can count on the rich experience of water management of Israel. He informed that in Israel it is especially important to monitor and immediately eliminate leaks in the water supply system, and currently water losses in some municipalities there are about 5%.

"Our main priority in the water and sewerage sector is clean drinking water, so we are focusing on the quality of drinking water and the implementation of appropriate measures to improve the quality of service," said the Deputy Prime Minister. The efforts of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works are aimed at reducing water losses on the transmission network, because currently the average percentage of water losses in the country is between 55 and 60, but in some settlements it reaches 85 percent.

It also became clear at the meeting that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is interested in deepening partnerships with Israel in all areas of cooperation, including construction, road infrastructure, regional policy and urban development.

The modernisation of the road network is also among the priorities of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. Minister Karadjov presented the strategic infrastructure projects that the government has set for implementation and design: the completion of the highways "Hemus", "Europe", "Struma", "Black Sea" and "Rila" and the highway Vidin - Botevgrad, as well as the construction on the Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo highway and expanding the infrastructural connections with the Republic of Northern Macedonia. In order to improve connectivity, the government plans to build three tunnels under the Balkan Mountains - Shipka, Petrohan and the Black Sea - along the highway of the same name.