Agreement on Energy-efficient Renovation of Military Facilities

The signature ceremony was attended by the Croatian Minister of Environmental and Nature Protection, Mihael Zmajlović, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić, the Assistant Minister of Defence,  Viktor Koprivnjak and other officials.

Pursuant to the Agreement, which refers to the period 2014-2020, the Defence Ministry will adjust to NATO standards and will inaugurate energy-efficient construction. The projects outlined in the Agreement include renovation of the existing and construction of new facilities in compliance with the energy efficiency principles, worth 260 mil kuna, of which 41 mil kuna will be covered by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund
Defence Minister expressed satisfaction over the co-operation and the activities planned in the Agreement framework. 

„This is a very important day for us as the Agreement will enable the Ministry of Defence maintain military facilities far more economically.  We have large and complex facilities in our responsibility – barracks, boiler-houses and other military facilities which will, upon renovation of facades, roofs and paneling, with the aid by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund and the Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, offer much better working conditions. We appreciate their recognising the needs of the Armed Forces to economise the use the energy resources. Ministry of Defence has detected the needs of the defence sector and we can achieve much co-working with the Fund, and speaking as Minister, I am glad for that“, stated Minister Kotromanović.

The Director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Sven Muller, reminded that the expenses for the energy in the Republic of Croatia amount to 15% of GDP, and as many as 75% of buildings do not comply with the current technical regulations on thermal insulation. Improving such situation can save up significant means.

Speaking of the difficult energy situation related to the facilities in the public sector Minister of Environmental and Nature Protection, Mihael Zmajlović commended the Ministry of Defence’s initiative as one of the first in the public sector. The projects of the kind, stated Minister Zmajlović, should be pursued more extensively, as they entail long-term economising through energy saving and new labour posts opened. The Chief of the General Staff, General Drago Lovrić explained that the renovation plan pertained to the facilities that were large energy consumers, which will enable the reallocation of the assets for modernisation purposes.