RIGA, Oct 25 (LETA) - EUR 10 million will be available to local government from the Recovery Fund for purchase of electric school buses, according to the regulations adopted by the government today.

The money will be issued in the form of grants so that governments are able to replace buses running on fossil fuel with zero-emissions transport vehicles or electric buses for transportation of pupils to schools.

The grant program will be funded from the EU Recovery Fund, providing that at least 15 electric buses will be purchased and if necessary, the charging infrastructure will also be developed.

Bus parks of local governments have 132 buses older than 20 years, including 21 buses that were first registered 33-45 years ago.  This means that the transport vehicles are out dated and also create large greenhouse gas emissions.