Removing Barriers to Energy Efficiency Improvements in the State Sector in Belarus

The project will overcome institutional and policy and financial and information barriers, necessary to increase investments flows initially from state innovation funds and commercial banks if interest rates continue dropping; and energy management in state-owned companies. The project seeks to: i.Support managers of State-owned facilities and decision-makers at a national and regional level in financial and technical assessment of selected energy efficiency technologies and projects and provide support for energy audits, feasibility studies and in the development of bankable proposals; ii.Raise awareness, and implement an outreach strategy and recognition programmes to heighten bankers’ and State employees’ awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency, and reward exemplary energy leadership; iii.Implementation schemes such as employee bonuses for energy efficiency; allowing state institutions to retain and re-invest savings from energy efficiency in new energy efficiency schemes and improve partnerships between government, suppliers and financial institutions; and iv.Develop energy efficiency policy that supports investment by state facilities and companies in energy efficiency investment.