1. Slovenia: Danube River Basin EBRD / GEF Environmental Credit Facility
Mark Hughes
Principal Environmental Adviser, EBRD

2. Project
Framework environmental credit facility for reducing water pollution
Channelled through local banks
Aimed at industry, agriculture and smaller municipalities within the Slovenian portion of Danube River Basin

3. Danube River Basin

4. Key parties Global Environment Facility EBRD Local banks in Slovenia
Sub-borrowers
TMG – Slovenian BAS Programme
Environmental Expert (E-Net d.o.o.)
FAO and Agribusiness Team

5. Key Project Components
EBRD Framework Facility
Euro 45m
Credit Lines to Local Banks
Euro 37m
GEF Grant (Investment and TA)
USD 9.9m
Grants to sub-borrowers
USD 6m
Compensation to local banks
USD 3m
Environmental Expert
USD 305,000
TA to polluting entities – BAS
USD 540,000
Marketing and Information Dissemination
USD 63,000

6. Sub-projects Private or public sector
Environmental eligibility  confirmed by Environmental Expert
Credit assessment  undertaken by participating banks
Loan amount per sub-project: no min, EUR 3 million max.

7. Project Processing EBRD TMG BAS Env Expert Borrower GEF
Brief
Consultancy
Contract
Credit Line Agreement
TMG BAS
Participating Banks
Env Expert
Loan Agreement
Advisory
Services
Eligibility Check
Confirm
Completion
Borrower
Incentive payments
Incentive payments
Administrative fees
GEF

8. Current Activities
Four participating banks have signed up to the facility for a total amount of €37 million:
Volksbank-Ljudska Banka - €10 million
Bank Austria Creditanstalt - €12 million
Nova Ljubljanska Banka - €10 million
Probanka - €5 million
15 sub-project disbursements, e.g. small municipalities, general manufacturing, services
Loans from €83,000 up to €3m max. (€4.5m in exceptional circumstances)

9. Current Activities
Environmental Expert has appraised over 50 sub-projects
BAS programme has completed 9 projects, 14 projects are in progress and 1 project is awaiting signature.
Sectors – food and beverages, chemicals, paper, textiles, services and municipalities
Areas of assistance – pre-investment studies, feasibility studies, technology selection