A guarantee agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on ‘Green Cities’ program between Mariupol City Council and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have been signed today in Kiev in the office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The documents were signed by Mayor of Mariupol Vadim Boichenko and Vice-President of the EBRD in Ukraine Marina Petrov.
The guarantee contract is a document that gives the opportunity to purchase 72 new trolley buses, to reconstruct the depot and the contact network in one of the central avenues of Mariupol. The acquisition of new transport is a part of the development strategy of the city’s transport infrastructure. The funds will be provided to ‘Mariupol Tram and Trolleybus Administration’ public utility. The total investment is EUR 18 mln. EUR 15 million - loan funds, and EUR 3 million - grants. According to the agreement, Mariupol City Council acts as a guarantor under the credit obligation of Mariupol Tram and Trolleybus Administration to the EBRD.
The Green Cities Bank program provides assistance in the development of green city planning and infrastructure investments necessary to respond to challenges in the field of urban environmental infrastructure.
According to the Memorandum, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development together with the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives will develop ‘Green Cities’ Program methodology. The EBRD will search for grant funding to cover the cost of expert services and advice that will help Mariupol develop a Green City Action Plan.
In addition, the City Council and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will cooperate in the preparation, financing and implementation of at least one investment project. The first will be a project to upgrade the infrastructure of solid waste. Its goal is the reclamation of existing landfills, the construction of a new landfill and a plant for the treatment of solid waste.
