13.04.2021.
Director of the Fund Siniša Kukić and Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milošević today visited family houses in village Bjelajci, which got electricity today for the first time. These households are part of the rural electrification pilot project implemented by the Fund, as one of the ways to fight energy poverty in Croatia.“Just like Nikola Tesla who, with one flick of the switch, turned night into day, today we witnessed the lighting up of the households that so far didn’t have electricity,” said Siniša Kukić, the director of the Fund. He added that Bjelajci were one of the most remote villages around Pakrac, and that because of complex property relations, the procedure of bringing electricity had been long and costly. So, at the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund launched the pilot project of rural electrification. Kukić praised the cooperation in the field: “I believe it is very important that electricity should be supplied to any household that is still not connected to the grid in this day and age. We have had great help from the colleagues at HEP ODS. They are familiar with the circumstances on site, they proposed the priority buildings that required PV systems to get electricity.” He added that these systems had already been installed in the village of Katinovac, and were soon to be put up in Crevarska Strana, a village in Sisak-Moslavina County.
Every household participating in the project received from the Fund 5kW panels with the fittings, a backup generator, 10 LED light bulbs, and the highest energy class fridge. Apart from the donation in equipment worth HRK 400,000, the Fund provided the funding for the maintenance of the installed systems, and it is planning to extend the programme in Sisak-Moslavina and Požega-Slavonija County to other households that have so far not been connected to the grid.
Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia Boris Milošević said that the starting point for electrification of this area was the overhaul of the low voltage grid. “I hope that by the end of the year we will have provided electricity for around 200 households that used to have it in the past, and that we will complete the renovation project next year in all villages and for all users who need it.” He emphasised, though, that it was quite challenging bringing electricity to the households that are so far from the grid, and for whom this was too big an investment. “I would like to thank the director of the Fund and the Fund as an institution for showing such understanding and manging to secure the funding to provide electricity for those households that cannot be connected to the low voltage grid in a short period of time. We have found a good way to enable the people to remain in their homes, and to lead a dignified and good life they deserve in the 21st century,” concluded Milošević.
Nikola Ivanović, the deputy mayor of Pakrac, said that last year they electrified Rogulje and Cikote, now Bjelajci, and that it was planned to do so in Jakovci. “We are creating the conditions for normal life in this area, which has been abandoned for a long time, and also the conditions for fruit growing,” he said, and thanked again the Croatian government, Deputy PM Milošević, and the Fund.
On behalf of the villagers, Jasmin Gunjavić, who lives with his pregnant wife and two children, expressed gratitude at finally having all the necessary conditions for life and work. His wife pointed out that electricity would allow them to start their own apiculture business. Together with other villagers, they see this project as the chance to stay in their homes and lead a better life.
