11.04.2024.
The minister of economy and sustainable development, Damir Habijan, was present at today’s signing of a contract on the allocation of EUR 3 million by the mayor of Šibenik, Željko Burić, and the director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Luka Balen. These funds will be invested in the preparation of project and technical documentation for the construction of an RDF and dried sludge power plant. The sludge to be used will be taken from the Bikarac Waste Management Centre wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), which was opened two years ago as the most modern WMC in Šibenik-Knin County.The Director of the Fund pointed out that the Fund had provided both financial and expert support to Šibenik and the project team during the construction of WMC Bikarac. "Almost 15 million euros have been secured from the Cohesion Fund for construction, while the Fund has contributed another 7.5 million euros from national resources. I am pleased to state that now Bikarac operates in accordance with the highest standards, and with today's signing of the contract we have opened the final chapter of the establishment of a modern waste management system not only in Šibenik, but in the entire Šibenik-Knin County," said Balen. This project is worth 2,948,000.00 euros, which will be financed by the Fund with 100%.
Minister Habijan reminded that he had recently visited Bikarac, and that one of the first decisions after his taking office, was regarding the RDF recovery plant. "Looking at the four built waste management centres in Croatia, the example of Bikarac is an outstanding one. I would like to applaud the Town of Šibenik for showing by their own example what “integrated” means, i.e. circular waste management. In waste management centres, almost 50 percent of the cost is RDF, and you have the issue of dried sludge from the Agglomeration, which also needs to be disposed of. Therefore, the construction of the power plant that will close this circle, and the added value is the proximity of thermal energy users in the Podi Zone", said Minister Habijan, adding that Croatia's goal in 2035 was to have only ten percent of waste in landfills, which will not be attainable without power plants.
Mayor Burić pointed out that Šibenk had already solved the problem faced by most cities in Croatia today. "In terms of waste disposal and circular waste management, we have made a huge step forward, and with the WMC Bikarac power plant project, we will establish an integrated waste management system. I’d like to thank the Government of the Republic of Croatia which has fully supported us through the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund," said Burić.
The aim of the project for the construction of an RDF and WWTP sludge plant is to contribute to establishing an integrated waste management system by reducing the amount of waste that is landfilled, reducing landfill GHG emissions, and using waste-to-energy solutions.
The signing of the contract was also attended by the minister of administration and justice Ivan Malenica, deputy mayor of Šibenik Danijel Mileta, and the director of WMC Bikarac Robert Podrug.
