Energy Efficiency for Competitive Industry Financing Facility

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The EBRD is considering an energy efficiency credit line of up to €150 million (‘the Facility”) to be provided to commercial banks in Bulgaria for on-lending to privately-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered and operating in Bulgaria. The Project will support sustainable energy investments by Bulgarian SMEs, helping to improving their competitiveness. Eligible sub-projects must improve rational energy utilisation and will include: The Project generates transition impact by scaling up sustainable energy investments in the SME sector in Bulgaria for improving SME competitiveness in the light of high energy costs. The proposed Facility is deepening the impact of the existing energy efficiency programmes in Bulgaria by explicitly targeting investments by SMEs. Crucially, in the crisis recovery environment, the Facility will provide medium-term funding to Bulgarian financial institutions for on-lending to SMEs to finance energy efficiency investments. By providing dedicated funding to SMEs to invest in energy efficient technologies, the Facility will enable the companies to remain or become more competitive in the enlarged EU market. The SMEs that will invest in energy efficiency will be better prepared for the impact of further rises in the energy prices which is especially difficult in the crisis environment. The Facility will form part of the “Energy Efficiency and Green Economy Programme” (“the Programme”) to be launched by the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (“the Ministry”). The Programme is part of the Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy” 2007-2013 under which approximately €200 million from the European Regional Development Fund (“the Structural Funds”) and national co-financing have been earmarked for providing support to increase the efficiency and productivity of the SME sector through the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy investments by Bulgarian enterprises. The clients will be Bulgarian commercial banks (“Participating Banks”) which will on-lend the funds to SMEs. Senior loans of up to an aggregate of €150 million to be allocated to Participating Banks in Bulgaria. Framework amount is up to EUR 150,000,000. Loans to Participating Banks to be negotiated on a case by case basis with each of the Participating Bank. FI screened project. All Participating Banks will be required to comply with the requirements of EBRD’s Performance Requirement 2 (“PR”) on Labour and Working Conditions. All sub-loans under the credit lines will need to comply with the requirements of PR9 on Financial Intermediaries. Sub-borrowers financed through the credit lines will be required to comply with national requirements for environment, health and safety and labour standards. Reporting on sub-projects and annual environmental and social reports will be provided by the Participating Banks. A Project Preparation and Capacity Building Consultant financed by European Commission cooperation funds was contracted by EBRD to provide support with the preparation of the Programme design, to prepare guidelines, templates and monitoring tools and procedures as well as capacity building for local stakeholders involved in the Programme. Galina Shterionova, Principal Banker, Financial Institutions Team EBRD 17, Moskovska Str. Sofia, Bulgaria Tel. +359 (0) 2 9123 414 Fax: +359 (0) 2 9123 441 E-mail: shteriog@EBRD.com Stefania Racolta, Principal Manager, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Team EBRD One Exchange Square London EC2A 2JN Tel. +44 (0)20 7338 6123 Fax: +44 (0)20 7338 6942 E-mail: racoltas@EBRD.com