By acquiring 100 electric buses, the city of Astana plans to improve its public transportation system. This initiative is made possible by a €50 million senior loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This finance, approved will help the expansion of the city’s electric bus fleet, adding to Kazakhstan’s clean transportation efforts.
City Transportation Systems LLP, a municipally owned business in charge of overseeing Astana’s public transportation system, will run the electric buses. The project replaces conventional diesel and CNG buses with ecologically friendly electric vehicles in an effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhance air quality. Additionally, it will promote the switch from private to public transportation, which provides safer and more dependable services.
This project supports Astana’s overarching objective of encouraging environmentally friendly urban transportation by introducing electric buses and continuing to enhance the Light Rail Transit (LRT) network in the city. Astana will greatly lessen tailpipe emissions and noise pollution with this project, which will also help the city meet its climate goals.
The EBRD is providing long-term financing for the project, which has a total cost of €50 million. This funding is currently not available through local commercial banks. An Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) has been established to guarantee adherence to global standards, and Environmental and Social Due Diligence is currently under progress.