EBRD and EU upgrade wastewater services in Jordan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is improving water supply and modernising wastewater treatment facilities in Jordan with a sovereign loan of €30 million, co-financed by a €30 million grant from the European Union (EU).

Under the EBRD’s Municipal Resilience Refugee Response Framework, these funds will enable the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation to build a modern wastewater treatment plant. This plant will increase the network’s capacity to serve households and will be able to reach up to 1 million people, including Syrian refugees living in Amman and Zarqa, who are not connected to the main network.

The new wastewater treatment plant in Al Ghabawi will have a capacity of 24,750 m3 per day and will replace an existing facility in Ain Ghazal. The plant will also contribute to mitigating environmental risks.

In addition, 200 young people will receive certified training opportunities and employment in construction and facility management skills, funded by the Netherlands through the EBRD’s Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Multi-Donor Account (which is supported by Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Taipei China, and the United Kingdom).

Philip ter Woort, EBRD Director for the eastern Mediterranean region, said: “We are very proud to support the government of Jordan to build a modern wastewater treatment plant, which will provide services for households not connected to the mains system in Amman and Zarqa. More importantly, this service will alleviate the environmental impact of the current reception facility in Ain Ghazal, and increase Jordan’s resilience in areas that host refugees, who are affected by the ongoing water crisis.”

Since the start of its operations in Jordan in 2012, the EBRD has invested more than €1.5 billion in the country through 61 projects. Under the EBRD’s Municipal Resilience Refugee Response Framework, a total of €180 million of EBRD financing and €130 million in grants has been mobilised to date. The Bank’s priority in Jordan is to support sustainable energy, finance private enterprises, and promote infrastructure reform.