Contacts: Vesna Kostic, +381 11 3023 747 vkostic@worldbank.org Michael Jones, (202) 473-2588 Mjones2@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, December 9, 2008¾The World Bank today approved two operations for Montenegro in the amount of €17.5 million. The projects will improve the country’s property registration system, spatial planning, and permitting processes; and will increase energy efficiency in public buildings, such as schools and hospitals. The Land Administration and Management Project (€11 million) will focus on the improvement of Montenegro’s registration and cadastre systems, the preparation of new urban plans, and establishing a better regulatory and administrative framework for the overall planning and permitting sector in Montenegro. Over 70 percent of financing will be used in support of local offices of registration services – especially in the capital Podgorica, where the majority of land and property transactions occur. Nationally, the project will improve service standards through modern technologies, and will complete at least 100,000 hectares of cadastre and registration records in selected areas. The project will help the Real Estate Administration Department (READ) to bring all forms of land and property records online and ensure that READ will be able to provide basic maps in a timely manner to municipalities for planning and management purposes. The Ministry for Economic Development will receive support to improve planning and permitting processes, while municipalities with limited funds will be financed to develop spatial and general plans in line with recently approved National Spatial Plan. As such, the project will help to address the principal obstacle that has been identified by the most recent Doing Business survey. The Montenegro Energy Efficiency Project (€6.5 million) will provide financing and technical assistance in support of the Government’s strategy to lower energy intensity in Montenegro which, at the moment, is five times more than in the 15 most developed EU countries. Montenegro has developed an Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2008–12 to promote more efficient use of energy across economic sectors. Nevertheless, awareness about energy efficiency remains low at all levels, from end-users to Government officials. Issues that are the pillars of more efficient use of energy, such as solid legislative and regulatory frameworks, and measures to stimulate market mechanisms and promote behavioral changes are not given enough priority or attention. The Montenegro Energy Efficiency Project will finance improvements in heating systems, insulation, thermostatic valves, heat substations and networks, and other installations in buildings such as schools and hospitals. The project will provide the basis for development of a sustainable improvement program, demonstrated through quantified energy savings and increased end-user satisfaction. - |
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