Representatives from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and International Finance Cooperation (IFC) met with private and public sector stakeholders during their two-day mission to Tbilisi to exchange views on priority actions for energy efficiency in buildings in Georgia.

Speaking after a meeting with stakeholders hosted by the EBRD office in Tbilisi, Deputy Director-General Mathernova noted:

In Georgia, public and private buildings consume around 30% of all energy, which has an impact both on peoples' wallets and the environment. As the economy will continue to grow and so will energy consumption, it is imperative to make a push for improving energy efficiency standards, starting with the construction of public and private buildings. We are here to mobilize EU and IFI support for energy efficiency measures which will ultimately,enhance living standards of the Georgian people and energy independence of the country.

EBRD Regional Director for South Caucasus Mr Bruno Balvanera underlined:

Energy Efficiency is a crucial part of EBRD’s new strategy for Georgia that was approved this year. EBRD has been working with the Government of Georgia on new regulations leading to improved energy efficiency in the construction sector. This will set the course in implementing the legislation to align its national laws with the EU legislation. There is huge potential for improving energy performance standards for buildings in Georgia.

The joint mission is part of wider EU and partner IFI efforts to increase support for energy efficiency policies and investments in buildings in the EU's enlargement and neighbourhood regions. Four pilot countries have been selected: Georgia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Tunisia. The initiative aims to move away from individual energy efficiency projects to a comprehensive approach that supports concrete policy actions and scales up sustainable investments. After concluding missions in all selected countries, the European Commission together IFIs will identify priority areas for support of energy efficiency measures in buildings, public and private.

Background information:

In Georgia, residential and transport sectors are consuming the most energy (30% and 33%). New buildings in Georgia consume up to two times more energy than new buildings in some EU countries, while old buildings remain under-heated. As Georgia aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2030 and will have to implement energy efficiency legislation as a new member of the Energy Community, more efforts are needed to implement energy efficiency measures in the building sector. While the EU and IFI partners already support projects in Georgia focusing on energy efficiency in buildings, this initiative shall enhance the speed and scale of policy measures and investments in this important sector.

For more information about the mission, please contact:

Delegation of the European Union to Georgia:

Tamriko Mikadze, Press and Information Officer

E-mail: Tamriko.MIKADZE@eeas.europa.eu

Tel: (+995) 32 294 37 63

EBRD:

Loretta Martikian
Martikianl@ebrd.com
Tel: +995322447400