The city of Khmelnytskyi has received approval from the Credit Committee of the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) for a preferential loan under the Energy-Saving Program for implementing a comprehensive thermal modernization of five government-funded institutions for a total of UAH 10 million, as well as grant assistance under Co-financing Program from the East European Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership Fund (E5P Fund) of UAH 5 million. The city will contribute UAH 1.7 million for project financing.

With support from the USAID Municipal Energy Reform in Ukraine Project (USAID Project), the city's Energy-saving and Investment Policy Department had prepared an application for conducting the comprehensive thermal modernization of public buildings of Preschool Educational Institutions Nos. 26, 29, and 54, Secondary General Educational School No.14, and Educational Complex No.2, and submitted the application for review by the NEFCO Credit Committee. The project envisages installing Individual Heat Substations (IHS), replacing both internal and external lighting with energy-saving (LED) lighting, heat-insulating buildings fronts, renovation of roofing, replacement of windows, and implementing other energy-efficiency measures.

"This is the first such decision in many years, as international organizations refused to work with Khmelnytskyi before, due to the City's lack of a "grant" history. Now, we have to get an approval from MinFin," says Deputy Mayor Volodymyr Honcharuk.