Ljig Ceremony Marks 536.6 Million Dinars for Retrofits

Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy has committed 536.6 million dinars (roughly 4.58 million euros at the mid exchange rate) to energy retrofits for 20 public buildings across the country. Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, serving in a caretaker capacity, handed the contracts to local government representatives on September 16 in Ljig, the ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, funding went to the following local governments:

• Trgoviste, Mionica, Novi Pazar, Vlasotince, New Belgrade, Ub
• Smederevo, Bajina Basta, Vranje, Mali Zvornik, Ljig, Veliko Gradiste
• Vracar, Grocka, Savski Venac, Cajetina, Raska, Koceljeva, Cacak, Velika Plana

The program covers eight schools, two kindergartens, one health center, one culture center, four local government administration buildings and one utility facility. In three municipalities, the money will go toward upgrading public lighting. The work includes replacing windows and doors, adding thermal insulation, replacing boilers, installing heat pumps and solar panels, and upgrading lighting, with expected energy savings of 20 to 50 percent.

“We will carry out energy retrofits on eight schools, two kindergartens, one health center, one culture center, four local government administration buildings and one utility facility, while public lighting will be upgraded in three municipalities. Our goal is to use energy more rationally while creating better conditions for students, teachers, health workers, public administration employees and all citizens who use these buildings,” Djedovic Handanovic said.

As an example, she pointed to the health center in Ljig, where the ministry is backing the second phase of the building’s energy overhaul, worth 32 million dinars (about 0.27 million euros).

“We expect that once the work is finished, energy consumption at the health center will drop by about 78 percent, while annual carbon dioxide emissions will fall by more than 280 tons. That means more rational energy use and lower costs, but above all better and more comfortable conditions for patients and doctors,” the minister said.

This is not the first time Ljig has taken part in the program. The Sava Kerkovic Elementary School in the same town underwent an energy retrofit under a 2024 public call, in a project worth 44 million dinars (about 0.38 million euros), with the work completed this year. The upgrade brought better conditions for about 640 regular users, students and teachers alike. The ministry also covered 90 percent of the cost of installing a solar power plant and batteries, which cut the school’s electricity consumption by 48 percent.

From 2022 to 2025, the public building energy retrofit program renovated 39 schools, 12 kindergartens and preschool institutions, five culture centers, seven sports facilities and 12 local government buildings across Serbia. The state and local governments together spent 21.5 million euros on that effort.

Ljig Municipality President Milomir Starcevic said the municipality continuously invests in the energy efficiency of public buildings, noting that the health center, the culture center and the school gym had previously been renovated, while the municipal administration building was renovated five years ago.

“Every kilowatt saved means lower costs for the local government and more money we can direct toward improving the quality of life for our citizens. Ljig will keep investing in energy efficiency projects, and will also keep encouraging citizens to improve living conditions in their own homes,” Starcevic said.

During her visit to Ljig, Djedovic Handanovic also discussed subsidies for household energy retrofits and the status of energy-vulnerable customer, which comes with discounts on electricity, gas and heating bills. Applications are filed with the local government where the applicant lives. Starting with the next heating season, from October to March, pensioners with minimum pensions who hold an electricity meter in their own name will have their bills automatically reduced by 1,000 dinars, while war veterans and disabled war veterans will receive the same reduction after filing a regular application.