Rivneis the administrative, economic and cultural center of Rivne Oblast. Its area is 63 km2. As of 1 January 2015, the population of the city was 249,600 residents. Several years ago, Rivne was one of top ten European cities and regions in the “European Cities and Regions of Future’ 2012/2013” competition.
The city cooperates with international technical assistance projects in a variety of sectors (including municipal infrastructure improvement). Rivne’s partners includethe United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Northern Environmental Financial Corporation (NEFCO) and others. In 2012, an energy management unit was created in Rivne on the basis of PJSC “ESCO-RIVNE”, it is subordinated to the company’s management, City Council and its Executive Committee.
In 2011, the city became a participant of the USAID Municipal Heating Reform Project in Ukraine. The Municipal Energy Plan for 2012-2016 was developed within the framework of this Project. This document is a component of the strategic plan of the city in energy efficiency and energy conservation. The City Council approved it on 26 July 2012. On the same date, the Rivne City Council approved the decision on joining the European “Covenant of Mayors” initiative, which commits signatories to reducing their CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020 and thus contributing to the development of an environmentally oriented economy and improved quality of life.
In 2014, after signing of the relevant Memorandum, cooperation between the city and the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (hereinafter – the USAID Project) started. The Memorandum identified four main areas of work for municipal energy efficiency improvement and raising funds to finance the relevant measures:
1) support in developing the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP);
2) assisting in finding investments;
3) conducting an information campaign;