BCR is granting a loan worth RON 182.8 million (€36 million) to NewCold Romania, part of the Dutch NewCold Group. The financing supports the development of the country's first fully automated cold warehouse, introducing advanced automation and energy efficiency technologies to the Romanian market.

The project is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is contributing an equal amount of RON 182.8 million.

The EBRD loan benefits from a partial guarantee from the European Union through the EBRD InvestEU programme for sustainable transition. Furthermore, BCR and EBRD will provide total financing of up to RON 695.6 million (€137 million) for the first two phases of the project and a future expansion.

Cătălin Jaloba, Head of Real Estate Finance at BCR, said: "Through vertical, high-bay storage that utilises the full height of the building, with fully automated systems and low emissions, this project contributes to the modernisation of the food supply chain and increases the competitiveness of the Romanian economy."

The new facility introduces a fully automated logistics model designed for efficient resource use and reduced environmental impact. Estimates suggest the project will allow for a 50% reduction in energy intensity compared to conventional cold stores, a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, and the optimisation of space and operational flows through integrated digital systems.

Through this investment, NewCold will provide food industry producers, processors, and distributors with access to modern, fully digitalised infrastructure, strengthening Romania's position as a regional logistics hub in Central and South-Eastern Europe.