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Kharkiv is Awarded an EIB Assistance Grant to Rebuild its Transport Infrastructure Torn by Russian War

Kharkiv is Awarded an EIB Assistance Grant to Rebuild its Transport Infrastructure Torn by Russian War
photo: EIB/Kharkiv is Awarded an EIB Assistance Grant to Rebuild its Transport Infrastructure Torn by Russian War
17 / 11 / 2022

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the Kharkiv City Council, and the Saltivske Tram Depot municipal enterprise today officially launched their partnership in preparation for the Kharkiv City Urban Electric Transport project.

The main objective of the planned project is to upgrade tram services in the city by procuring new trams and by modernizing war-torn and worn-out track, systems, and depot infrastructure. The preparations will be financed by a €400 000 technical assistance grant funded by the EIB-managed EPTATF.

EIB-EPTATF grant will allow the Kharkiv City Council to prepare a coherent and feasible investment program for EIB financing which is expected as soon as the Russian aggression can no longer hinder a full-scale reconstruction of Ukraine.

EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who is in charge of EIB operations in Ukraine, said: “We need to be ready to start rebuilding Ukraine on the first day it wins this war. This means we need to start preparing reconstruction plans right now. The signature of this €400 000 EPTATF grant is the right step in this direction which allows us to review and modernize public transport planning in Ukraine, and create modern, efficient, safer, and green mobility for Kharkiv. Reconstruction of local transport infrastructure through projects like this will be a priority in the effort to normalize lives faster.  We have to build back a better Ukraine but at the same time build back to integrate Ukraine into the EU, where it belongs. This project is a good step in this direction and underlines once again EIBs commitment to support free, democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine.”

Mayor of Kharkiv Ihor Terekhov said: “This will be a major renewal and expansion of the tram system, which the city has not carried out in the past 30 years. This is extremely important in the context of implementing the city reconstruction plan immediately after a Ukrainian victory. Kharkiv and our tram depot need proper experience and skills in preparing such investments. Technical assistance support is very important to reduce any risks in the preparation and implementation of the project in a sound and timely manner. After hostilities have ended, the city of Kharkiv and its public transport will be even better than it used to be. That is why it is crucial to start planning to rebuild and repair, creating an ideal city of the future. I am grateful to the EIB for its continued support.”

Increased partnership for the post-war rebuilding of the public transport in Kharki

The modernization of the tram infrastructure is a vital part of the master plan to rebuild Kharkiv and its Urban Electric Surface Transport Development Programme for the period 2021-2025, which had already been approved before the war.

The EIB has a long history of supporting the modernization of transport infrastructure in Kharkiv. The portfolio of EIB-supported projects includes a €160 million loan to extend and upgrade the Kharkiv metro, signed in 2017. The EIB also provided a €10 million loan to Kharkiv to upgrade its trolleybus fleet and €45 million to purchase new metro cars in 2020 under the Ukraine Urban Public Transport Project (UUPTP) framework loan. 

The EIB has now been active in Ukraine for 15 years. Since 2007, it has invested over €7 billion in the country focusing on financing social and economic infrastructure, transport and connectivity, energy efficiency, SME development, climate action, and innovation. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EIB has been actively working within Team Europe to provide timely help and support to the Ukrainian people. As of November 2022, the EIB’s total financing for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war amounts to €1.7 billion aimed at covering the country's urgent financing needs, restoring the most critical damaged infrastructure, and resuming the provision of municipal services.

Source: EIB Press Releases

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