Environmental projects in the Slovak Republic, Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Assistance to Eastern Europe 2001

Environmental projects in the Slovak Republic

The joint projects in 2001 included all areas within the revised and extended country programme 2000, i.e. air, water and waste water, waste management, EU-approximation plus energy and nature. Sixteen projects were granted assistance in 2001, a total sum of DKK 36 mill - including two projects within the nature sector and assistance for a shutdown of the Bohuniche nuclear power station. This amounts to an increase of approx. DDK 4 million compared to 2000.

The Department of the Environment in Slovakia as well as the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has changed direct collaborators in the fall of 2001 and the good and constructive co-operation has continued.

With much help from the EU approximation project financed by DANCEE, Slovakia succeed in closing the chapter on environment during the admission negotiations with the EU in November of 2001. The project has received much praise from the Slovakian part and has caused a stronger sense of understanding for the environmental assistance in relation to the admission to the EU. The identified strategy and action plans in the project will be a central starting point for the future environmental assistance to Slovakia.

In light of the higher priority on energy in the country programme 2000, projects concerning the energy sector have taken up a great part of the co-operation in 2001. The projects concern local combined heating and power, the use of biomass as energy source, monitoring of air emission plus assistance to the programme for the shutdown of the Bohunice nuclear power station. A number of these projects plus projects concerning waste water and waste management are under preparation for direct investments in 2002.

In the nature sector the assistance is directed towards training and information plus assistance to the country's largest nature reserve - Tatra National Park.

Furthermore, an extensive and highly prioritised cross-border cooperation project between Slovakia and the Ukraine on flood monitoring has been implemented with Danish assistance.

Project title	Slovak Environmental Fund. Preparation of Business Plan
File no.	124/037-0047
Project recipient	The Slovak Environmental Fund
Project manager	COWI as
Project description	The purpose of the project is to prepare a business plan and develop a number of computer tools as a prelude to the establishing of a revolving fund of 50 million Euro. The fund will be set up within the framework of the Environmental Fund. The Czech bank PKB lends money to the fund.
Environmental effect (expected)	No in the present project, but the establishment of the revolving fund will result in prioritised projects with a measurable environmental effect.
Grant	DKK 1,687,861
Total costs	DKK 1,687,861

Project title	Preparation to assist the Slovak Republic in the implementation of the Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)
File no.	124/037-0055
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	NIRAS
Project description	The project prepares a project document to assist the Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia in implementing the IPPC directive. The project is based on Danish experiences in that field. The project document is prepared in relation to the Project Cycle Management Manual for subsequent invitation to tender in Denmark.
Environmental effect (expected)	As a result of the project implementation considerable environmental improvements will be obtained in the shape of environmentally oriented operations and emissions condition (the collective environmental approvals) for all larger industrial enterprises in Slovakia.
Grant	DKK 428,302
Total costs	DKK 428,302

Project title	District Heating in Slovakia: Identification of Upgrade Project
File no.	124/037-0057
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	Energy Centre Bratislava
Project description	Energy Centre Bratislava will conduct an investigation into the possibilities for the Danish Environmental Support Programme within the next few years to support projects on renovation of district heating facilities, conversion of existing facilities into natural gas burning combined heat and power station and/or facilities for biomass/bio waste facilities. Focus will be on small to medium sized facilities. A list of priorities will be prepared with actual projects, including both environmental benefit as well as economy.
Environmental effect (expected)	No in the present project, since this is an investigation.
Grant	DKK 180,520
Total costs	DKK 220,000

Project title	The Slovak-Danish co-operation in the environmental sector 1991 - 2001
File no.	124/037-0058
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	Slovak Environmental Agency Centre for Environmental Education
Project description	The purpose of the project is to prepare a book on the co-operation on the environment between Slovakia and Denmark in the period from 1991 to 2001. Apart from a description of the co-operation the book will contain a list of the supported projects plus a description of these programmes. Furthermore, it will include a description of the obtained environmental benefit and the effort in connection with implementation of EU's environmental laws.
Environmental effect (expected)	No immediate.
Grant	DKK 350,000
Total costs	DKK 350,000

Project title	Bohunice International Decommissioning Fund, EBRD
File no.	124/037-0059
Project recipient	Bohunice nuclear power station
Project manager	European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Project description	The Slovakian government is committed to shut down the oldest two of the generators at the Bohunice nuclear power station, closing reactor 1 and 2 in 2006 and 2008, respectively. These reactors are of the VVER 440/230 type designated - together with the RBMK type - as the most hazardous reactors at the 1992 G7-summit in Munich and those the efforts should focus on, since upgrading to Western standards is regarded impossible. With reference to assistance of the shutdown in an environmentally justifiable way, the EBRD has established the Bohunice International Decommissioning Fund to carry out a number of projects in relation to the shutdown.
Environmental effect (expected)	An environmentally safe shutdown of the two oldest nuclear reactors at the Bohunice plant.
Grant	DKK 12,000,000
Total costs	DKK 12,000,000

Project title	Water Sector Investment Projects
File no.	124/037-0061
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	HAP Consult
Project description	The project will illustrate the possibilities for initiating investment projects within the sectors of water and waste water. Terms of Reference for the relevant projects will be prepared. These will be selected in cooperation with the Slovaks.
Environmental effect (expected)	No from the actual project. The project creates the framework for future reductions.
Grant	DKK 922,658
Total costs	DKK 1,022,000

Project title	General Waste Terms of Reference, Slovakia
File no.	124/037-0062
Project recipient	Rambøll as
Project manager	Rambøll as
Project description	The present project concerns the preparation of project proposals for initiating projects within the sectors of waste incineration, national hazardous waste management and waste management data base.
Environmental effect (expected)	No in the present project, since the project will propose future investments projects.
Grant	DKK 1,398,009
Total costs	DKK 1,600,000

Project title	Establishment of Varin Environmental Education Centre - Slovakia
File no.	124/037-0064
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia and Mala Fatra National Park
Project manager	Carl Bro as
Project description	The project will prepare a structure and strategy for a nature academy, estimate the need for training and implement training of teachers and employees in the training centre and implement activities to improve public awareness on environmental issues. The project will also plan and implement "green solutions" in treatment of waste water, and in connection with the power supply in the building where the training centre is located.
Environmental effect (expected)	For many years ahead the nature academy will assist in securing and developing the environmental knowledge in Slovakia.
Grant	DKK 3,020,276
Total costs	DKK 3,580,276

Project title	Feasibility Study on the Educational and Institutional Basis of Environmental Monitoring
File no.	124/037-0065
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	DHI Water & Environment
Project description	Slovakia expects to be admitted into the EU in 2004. The requirements within the environmental sector have been identified and agreed upon, and the implementation has been carried out. In order to comply with the requirements on monitoring of the environment - implementation of the EU monitoring and control tables and standards - access to equipment, institutions and trained personnel is needed. The present feasibility study will identify the needs for training and monitoring systems to comply with the requirements concerning air and waste.
Environmental effect (expected)	No in this phase.
Grant	DKK 558,390
Total costs	DKK 658,390

Project title	Policy Advice and Project Development Support to Slovakia
File no.	124/037-0066
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	Modus consult i/s
Project description	The present project will continue the assistance to the Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia in its work on an approach towards the EU environmental acquis. The project is an extension of a long-term consultant position established in 1999 at the Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia (MoE) with the primary purpose of acting as policy advisor for the MoE, including the present strategy project of approximation to the EU. The position is now expanded to include - on demand - policy advice in connection with project preparations and programming in the remainder of the South East European countries, including the Balkans.
Environmental effect (expected)	No immediate.
Grant	DKK 1,828,435
Total costs	DKK 1,828,435

Project title	Study of the Potential of Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source
File no.	124/037-0068
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia and Energy Centre Bratislava
Project manager	Ballast-ECI International Consultants
Project description	The overall objective is to reduce the regional and global air pollution by using biomass as energy fuel in Slovakia. The specific objective is to create a practical foundation for decision-makers at relevant organisations concerning future/potential use of biomass as substitution for the use of fossil fuel as energy supply. Gathered information will be used to identify and define possibilities and problems in the utilisation of biomass in Slovakia plus identify criteria on the selection of specific sites for potential investment projects within the area. Four sites will be selected and feasibility analyses for these will be prepared.
Environmental effect (expected)	No immediate.
Grant	DKK 745,655
Total costs	DKK 745,655

Project title	Implementation of the Slovak National Air Emission Inventory System (NEIS)
File no.	124/037-0070
Project recipient	Slovak Meteorological Institute
Project manager	Carl Bro as
Project description	The project completes the implementation of the National Air Emission Inventory System in Slovakia. At PHARE project conducted in 1995 designed the air monitoring system for all of Slovakia. In principle, it consist of three layers: a district level, a regional level and a central level. Until today data have only been collected from one year - 2000. These are only based on data from the district level and central level, since the regional stations have not been ready to use. Furthermore, data has been treated insufficient, partly due to a shortage of equipment (including computer equipment and software) on the district level. The present project closes existing "caps" in the surveillance system partly by an equipment component made up by computers for the district level and partly by measuring and surveillance equipment for two regional stations - one stationary, one mobile - and partly by training of the relevant personnel involved in the air monitoring system. Slovakia has not asked for a transitional period on air monitoring and with this project the country is expected to comply with all monitoring and reporting requirements in the EU directive in this field before the end of 2003. The project is given priority in the country programme for Slovakia.
Environmental effect (expected)	The project will result in Slovakia being able to perform a complete monitoring of air emission and air immission in Slovakia, that will provide a foundation for a determined and prioritised effort against the largest sources of air pollution.
Grant	DKK 4,876,233
Total costs	DKK 5,500,000

Project title	Desk Appraisal and Tender Procedure for the Project Hazardous Waste Management
File no.	124/037-0072
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	Kvistgaard Consult
Project description	The project conducts a desk appraisal of an existing project document, prepares tender documents and handles tenders and contract preparation for a project on hazardous waste in Slovakia.
Environmental effect (expected)	The project will pave the way for larger investment projects in future waste management in Slovakia. This will lead to considerable environmental improvements.
Grant	DKK 248,832
Total costs	DKK 248,832

Project title	Economic Support to Slovakia for the Negotiation and Implementation of the EU Accession Process
File no.	124/037-0074
Project recipient	Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia
Project manager	NIRAS
Project description	The economic assistance project provides technical assistance to the Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia. The technical assistance conducts economic/financial analyses on environmental issues as well as supplies training in these areas. Based on co-operation and the results of a terminated EU approximation project (October 2001) the Ministry of the Environment in Slovakia has requested continued support for the economic analyses and training in this to help with the future negotiations for EU membership and the EU implementation phases. The project will be directed towards new areas of EU approximation within environment and project development. The project will continue the day-to-day co-operation and involvement of Slovakian economists and will begin a new co-operation with the department of "Economic Tools and Inter-Sectoral-Relations Division" based on identification of longterm data plus evaluation of at least one area presently a part of the department's field of activity. In this manner the project will continue to assist the capacity build-up through development of both tools and models for economic/financial analyses. In addition it will secure the involvement of Slovakian economists and their use of these tools and analyses.
Environmental effect (expected)	No immediate, but the project will focus on cost-effective solutions to environmental problems.
Grant	DKK 2,521,191
Total costs	DKK 3,500,000

Project title	Participatory and Sustainable Management of Tatra National Park
File no.	124/037-0076
Project recipient	The administration of the Tatra National Park
Project manager	Holsteinborg Consult
Project description	Through capacity build-up and development of collaboration between the various players the project will develop a new administration plan for the Tatra National Park, that holds natural amenities of international class. The plan must take into account the strain on the park due to hunting, forestry, recreational activities and tourism. The quality and sustainability will be ensured through the participation from the citizens and involvement of private plot owners, just as the process will improve the co-operation between national and regional authorities playing different parts in the administration of the area. This participatory process will spread to other national parks in Slovakia. The project will help Slovakia meet the commitments in relation to EU's nature requirements, including compliance with the requirements of Natura 2000.
Environmental effect (expected)	No immediate.
Grant	DKK 5,450,000
Total costs	DKK 6,946,000