Early Warning System

Regions

Europe and Central Asia

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Countries

Bulgaria
Romania

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Financial Institutions

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.

Project Status

Approved

Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.

Bank Risk Rating

Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."

Borrower

Government of Bulgaria, Government of Romania

A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.

Sectors

Energy
Law and Government
Technical Cooperation

The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.

Investment Type(s)

Advisory Services

The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.

Investment Amount (USD)

Not Disclosed

Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.

Government Documents

Primary Source

Original disclosure @ EBRD website

Updated in EWS Oct 13, 2024

Disclosed by Bank Oct 10, 2024

Contribute Information
Can you contribute information about this project?
Contact the EWS Team

Project Description

If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

As stated by the EBRD, hydrogen, primarily used in industrial processes like fertilizer production and oil refining, has the potential to become an energy carrier that replaces fossil fuels in the energy transition. Currently, most hydrogen is produced via steam methane reforming (SMR), an energy-intensive process that generates significant CO2 emissions. For hydrogen to contribute to decarbonization, its production must become low and ultimately zero carbon.

The EU's hydrogen strategy, adopted in 2020, outlines policy actions across investment, production, market creation, research, and international cooperation. The Fit-for-55 package, introduced in 2021, translates the strategy into concrete policies, setting targets for renewable hydrogen uptake by 2030 in industry and transport. The EU has also introduced the hydrogen and gas decarbonization package to build dedicated infrastructure and create an efficient hydrogen market.

In 2024, the EU reinforced its net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem through the Net-Zero Industry Act, promoting the development of hydrogen valleys. Two delegated acts under the Renewable Energy Directive set criteria for renewable hydrogen and life-cycle emissions standards. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), through the EU Technical Support Instrument, is supporting Bulgaria and Romania's Ministries of Energy in establishing a regional hydrogen network in Southeastern Europe.

The objective of this Assignment is to support the Bulgarian and Romanian Authorities to identify and resolve a number of outstanding legal, regulatory and market barriers to the development of a regional market for low carbon and electrolytic hydrogen. Scope of work includes:

Task 1: Legal and regulatory review

Task 2: Review of national competitiveness and options to provide investment support

Task 3: Review of the options for certification of green and low carbon hydrogen

Task 4: Hydrogen blending standards

Task 5: Regional Hydrogen Council (establishment of a Joint Regional Expert Group)

Task 6: Capacity building materials and workshop

Task 7: Communication materials and final conference

Investment Description

Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Investment information not provided at the time of disclosure.

Contact Information

This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:

Phone: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can request information by emailing: accessinfo@ebrd.com or by using this electronic form: https://www.ebrd.com/eform/information-request

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EBRD

The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the PCM, it may assess compliance with EBRD's own policies and procedures to prevent harm to the environment or communities or it may assist you in resolving the problem that led to the complaint through a dialogue with those implementing the project. Additionally, the PCM has the authority to recommend a project be suspended in the event that harm is imminent.

You can contact the PCM at: pcm@ebrd.com or you can submit a complaint online using an online form at: http://www.ebrd.com/eform/pcm/complaint_form?language=en

You can learn more about the PCM and how to file a complaint at: http://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/project-finance/project-complaint-mechanism.html