Beo Čista Energija, a joint-venture of SUEZ, ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) and Marguerite is proud to announce that its 370m EUR Energy-from-Waste and Landfill Remediation PPP in Belgrade, Serbia has earned the Gold Award, Best Utilities Project 2020 by Partnership Bulletin, a reference distinction in the infrastructure industry.
The project was distinguished among 12 of the largest waste, energy, water, and telecoms projects that reached financial close in 2020. This flagship project aims at closing the Vinca dumpsite located on the bank of the Danube river near Belgrade, which absorbs about 800,000 tons of municipal and industrial waste from the Serbian capital. Being in operation since 1977, the landfill negatively affects the quality of air and water in the region. The project has been financially supported by the IFC, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Austrian Development Bank and is currently in the construction stage of an Energy-from-Waste facility which will produce heat and power from municipal waste. Additional infrastructure includes a construction and demolition waste recycling plant, a reverse-osmosis water treatment plant to clean polluted water from the Vinca landfill and an engineered landfill to safely dispose of non-recoverable residues. These new facilities will allow to close and remediate the existing Vinca landfill, the largest non-sanitary landfill still in operation in Europe. Together with its partner Beo Čista Energija, the City of Belgrade, is also implementing a Livelihood Restoration Plan, which includes offering job opportunities to the waste pickers who used to live off materials scavenged from the waste.
The 21st annual Partnership Awards ceremony was organized by Partnerships Bulletin which awarded the best PPP Projects in 2020 from around the world. Partnerships Bulletin is the only publication solely dedicated to the PPP market covering the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia and Pacific regions. Partnership Awards for more than 20 years have been recognizing winners for their innovation and role they provide in introducing the best practice in the market. The winners were selected by an esteemed panel of 80 judges and the awards were presented in 18 categories. The virtual evening Partnerships Bulletin Awards 2020 was broadcast online from London on December 9.
Management of Beo Čista Energija stated:
“We are pleased to proudly announce that PPP project in partnership with the capital of the Republic of Serbia, City of Belgrade, earned this prestigious award. Recognition of Belgrade PPP for its complex financing structure and broad scope of works that will significantly improve environment and provide modern facilities for waste treatment and disposal may serve as an example of good practice and innovative solution that might help other cities to manage increasing quantities of municipal waste and utilize it, thus reducing waste volumes going to landfill.”
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