By Joel Cela
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is maintaining its commitment to improving the urban transport system in Pristina by providing a senior loan of up to €10 million(US$10.61million) under the Green Cities framework.
The loan will be extended to Trafiku Urban, Pristina’s municipal transport company and largest bus operator. It will be used to finance the acquisition of 30 buses, comprising 24 Euro VI vehicles and 6 battery electric buses, along with charging infrastructure. The project will introduce electric bus technology to Kosovo for the first time, with the six electric buses operating on a flagship circular route through the centre of the capital city.
The city’s objective is to increase services and improve the reliability, safety and efficiency of its public transport system. The project will primarily promote the green transition by alleviating the environmental impacts of the urban transport system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 76 per cent. The introduction of electric buses and the expansion of the city’s fleet with Euro VI buses will help achieve this by shifting users from polluting minibuses and cars to the new bus services. Euro VI diesel buses comply with the Euro VI emissions standard, which limits the emissions they produce.
EBRD Director of Infra Europe, Susan Goeransson said after the signing: “Promoting the green economy is one of our strategic priorities in Kosovo. We are proud to work with the city of Pristina to improve the transport system and reduce substantially the emissions from air pollutants. By building on the achievements of our previous project with the city and Trafiku Urban, we solidify a successful partnership and reaffirm our strong commitment to Pristina and its citizens.”
Mayor of Pristina Përparim Rama said: “We are very proud to continue our close collaboration with our long-standing partner, the EBRD, in our joint effort towards a green transition. The introduction of the first electric buses to the city and the country is a pivotal moment in this regard. It will have a tangible impact on the lives of our citizens and take meaningful steps towards a healthier and cleaner Pristina.”
Representing Trafiku Urban, Valmira Uka said: “This is a very exciting moment for us, extending a partnership that started back in 2016 with the EBRD. The expansion of our bus fleet will make it possible for us to give the citizens of Pristina a more efficient, reliable and safer transport system. The six electric buses that will operate on a flagship circular route through the city centre are only the first step in our effort to transition to this cleaner mode of transport.”
Technical cooperation assistance for the municipality will include support for project implementation and bus network restructuring, for which a grant of €760,000 will be provided by an international donor. The company will also spend €1.8 million of its own resources on a cost-sharing contribution to the project and provide in-kind support.
The loan is a follow-on investment in the city, after an initial €10 million was provided to Trafiku Urban in 2016 for the purchase of 51 new diesel buses that met the Euro VI emissions standard. The new finance reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to facilitating a green transition in the Western Balkans.
The project aligns with the Bank’s Country Strategy for Kosovo, which places importance on the increased autonomy of publicly owned companies and sustainable improvements in public services.
To date, the EBRD has invested €625 million in Kosovo. The Bank’s strategic priorities in the country are to promote the green economy, support the competitive development of the private sector and foster regional integration.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Content Write-Offs Add Another Billion Dollars To WBD Restructuring Costs
By Andy Fry
Warner Bros. Discovery has significantly increased its estimates on how much the company’s current pivot to streaming is going to cost. With the US TV sector gripped by a series of high profile show cancellations, WBD made an SEC Filing in which it said total pre-tax restructuring charges would now be in the range of US$4.1-US$5.3bn. In October, the company estimated this figure would be between US$3.2-US$4.3bn.
Almost all of the revised upward estimate is down to content write-offs. The previous estimate included “content impairment and development write-offs of approximately US$2.0-US$2.5 billion”. The Company now expects that figure to be between US$2.8-US$3.5bn.
Tellingly, WBD said it is “not revising previously disclosed estimates for organisation restructuring costs, facility consolidation and other contract termination costs.”
The company doesn’t expect the cost revisions to change its restructuring timetable – which makes sense given that it is primarily about cancelling shows. However it did warn that there could be “additional impairments above the revised estimates”.
In practical terms, WBD’s restructuring has resulted in widespread editorial job losses and the cancellation of shows like Nevers and Westworld. The move is part of a wider cancellation trend that has also seen AMC axe Moonhaven, Starz drop Dangerous Liaisons and Netflix wrap up Warrior Nun. AMC’s interim chief James Dolan complained recently that the monetisation of content is currently “in disarray”.
