Major overhaul of student dorms begins — €80m EU–KfW project to boost energy efficiency
Joint EU and KfW financing will fund deep renovations, renewables and measures aimed at cutting energy use by about 50 percent.
The reconstruction of student dormitories across North Macedonia has begun under a joint €80+ million programme funded by the European Union, the German development bank KfW and the Ministry of Education and Science.
More than €60 million will be provided as a loan, with an additional €21 million given as a direct grant from the EU, officials said. The work will include complete building renovations, installation of renewable energy systems and measures aimed at cutting electricity bills roughly in half.
First phase focuses on energy upgrades
“We have the goal of reducing energy consumption, while at the same time reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which harm the climate. The government has a choice: to continue operating student dormitories in North Macedonia and in Ohrid as before, or to invest—practically at the same price and cost—and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, thereby improving living conditions in these dormitories,” said Damjan Stojkovski of the Ministry of Education and Science (project implementation unit) and Stefano Elero, head of the cooperation sector (Delegation of the EU to North Macedonia).
Authorities say the financing model combines EU grant funding with favourable KfW loans so the state will not need to allocate extra budget money. The planned 50 percent reduction in energy consumption is expected to generate savings that will directly help repay the loan.
“In this way, while we support North Macedonia in advancing the country's two most important political agendas, EU accession and the green transition, we are achieving concrete and visible results. We have better living conditions for students, more energy-efficient public buildings, lower energy consumption and a cleaner environment,” said Oliver Junger, portfolio manager (development bank KfW, Frankfurt).
Work is already nearing completion at the Kuzman Josifovski Pitu student dormitory, originally built in the mid-1950s. The project includes high-quality insulation materials and energy-efficient windows with low thermal emissivity; while the building is out of use for renovations it will temporarily operate as a hostel for foreign students.
Photo: press material from the event
