Macedonian private enterprises, public institutions and municipalities can apply for new credit line amounting €75 million in the frames of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) led Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for the Western Balkans.

A loan of €6 million is provided through Ohridska Bank since Dec. 2013 and additional €3 million will be available by end of next month. So far one application and four requests from private enterprises have been submitted.

The launch of the next credit line and preparation of action plan for bigger inclusion of Macedonian companies for submitting applications for loans aimed at financing projects for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources were discussed at Friday's meeting between Economy Minister Valjon Saracini and Anca Ioana Ionescu, Head of EBRD Skopje Resident Office.

As of next week the Ministry of Economy in cooperation with EBRD is to begin a direct communication firstly with Economic Chambers for presentation of credit lines. Secondly, the presentations of projects for application will also be held in other cities in the country and as well as meetings with the Association of the Units of the Local Self-Government (ZELS) and mayors, Saracini said.

Ionescu said that 38 projects totalling €12 million were supported from the previous credit line in Macedonia. Of them 18 projects are in the field of energy efficiency, 16 from renewable energy sources and four combined projects in the sphere of energy.