Sarajevo Canton allocates one million marks to help businesses replace solid-fuel heating

The Ministry has allocated 1 million Bosnian marks (approx. € 511,292) from the 2026 Sarajevo Canton budget to fund the initiative. Individual projects can secure co-financing covering up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, capped at a maximum of 35,000 marks (approx. € 17,895).

The initiative forms part of a wider package of systemic measures delivered by the Ministry to improve air quality across Sarajevo Canton. It expands upon earlier support schemes targeting residential households and public buildings, extending financial aid to commercial pollution sources.

Funding is earmarked for upgrading heating systems in commercial and production premises, replacing solid-fuel stoves in bakeries, pizzerias, grill restaurants, and manufacturing plants, and fitting specialized pollution-mitigation devices.

Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk stressed that tackling air pollution requires addressing every emission source alongside practical support to help enterprises transition.

“We are aware that switching to environmentally friendly energy sources presents a financial challenge for business owners. That is why Sarajevo Canton is responding with concrete funding and partnership. By financing up to half of the cost of purchasing new equipment, we are providing a direct incentive for companies to modernize their facilities, reduce costs, and become environmentally responsible partners in our joint fight against pollution. The 1 million marks (approx. € 511,292) allocated to this program represents concrete support for that process, yielding direct benefits for air quality and public health,” Uk stated.

Minister of Communal Economy, Infrastructure, Physical Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection Mladen Pandurevic noted that the package was tailored to suit varied commercial requirements.

“With this program, we are introducing financial support for the first time for companies and sole proprietors to reduce emissions from solid-fuel stoves and boilers, extending air quality protection measures to the business sector. Several hundred such sources of pollution are registered in Sarajevo Canton, and their facilities need technological upgrades to bring emissions into compliance with prescribed limit values. Through grants for equipment replacement and the installation of emission-reduction systems, we aim to ease the necessary investment burden on businesses while taking into account the specific technological needs of their activities,” Pandurevic remarked.

The Ministry will administer the scheme through a public call, with eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and application guidelines to be published on its official website.

Alongside lowering harmful PM10 and PM2.5 particle levels, the scheme aims to help enterprises avoid operational restrictions imposed during severe winter smog episodes under emergency response plans. Furthermore, mandatory registration of participating facilities in the Sarajevo Canton Combustion Plant Register will establish enhanced oversight across the business sector.