CLEAN URBAN TRANSPORT PROGRAMME LOAN SPAIN II

Financing the renewal of urban public transport fleets, the related charging infrastructure and depot adaptation works. Sub-operations of the programme will fall under the Cleaner Transport Facility.

The project consists of a programme loan (PL) to support both public and private promoters operating under a public service contract responsible for the provision of passenger services in Spanish municipalities. Investments under this project will include the acquisition of zero-emission bus fleets (e.g. electric or hydrogen buses), the implementation of associated infrastructure needs (adaptation of existing depots for the vehicles and the charging and refuelling stations) and related investments to improve the quality of the services, (software, IT systems). Renewal of other urban public transport vehicles (metro, tramway) will also be eligible for financing through the PL. The sub-operations under the programme may be implemented in any Spanish municipality.

The manufacturing of rolling stock, software and IT systems for vehicle operation as well as charging stations do not fall within the scope of the EIA Directive 2011/92/EC amended by Directive 2014/52/EU. Therefore, no environmental impact assessment (EIA) will be required for these components. Hydrogen production and storage may fall under Annex II of the EIA directive, and therefore the Bank will require prior to allocation of any investments related to the production and distribution of hydrogen, the screening decision of the competent authority and the EIA if required. Hydrogen production and storage facilities may also have to comply with the SEVESO III Directive (Directive 2012/18/EU) if storage capacity is above the lower-tier threshold of five tons, and the Bank will verify compliance at the time of allocation of such schemes. The Promoters will undertake to inform the Bank on how the end-of-life buses are being disposed of and provide the relevant scrapping certificate(s), in line with EU and national regulation and industry best practice. If some of the replaced buses are sold in the second hand market, the Promoters will inform the Bank of the purchaser and country of operation. The adaptation of existing depots for the vehicles falls under Annex II of the EIA Directive 2011/92/EC amended by Directive 2014/52/EU. Adaptation of existing facilities is usually screened out as environmental impacts are low and no land acquisition is normally required. If a screening is however required, the Promoters shall provide to the Bank the screening decision in the context of the EIA Directive and if required the EIA and approval of the competent authorities prior to disbursement against these components.

The Bank will require the Promoter to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, 2014/25/EU as well as Directive 92/13/EEC or Directive 89/665/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the EU, as and where required. As the proposed operation is structured as a programme loan there is no information available at this stage on the investments to be covered by the EIB loan and the procurement process.