NADB Board of Directors approves US $10.5 million in financing for three environmental infrastructure projects

The Board of Directors of the North American Development Bank (NADB) approved US$10.5 million in loans and grants to support three new projects in the areas of wastewater and solid waste management, which will benefit communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gabriel Yorio González, Head of International Finance at Mexico’s Ministry of Finance (SHCP) and Board chair for 2019, reported that these projects represent a total investment of close to US$18.5 million for the benefit of 153,600 people.

The announcement was made at the semi-annual public meeting of the Board of Directors, held this afternoon in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.

Among the projects certified for financing, two are in the sector of wastewater. The first project consists of the continued rehabilitation of a deteriorated section of the sewer trunk line known as “Colector Poniente”, in northwestern Tijuana, Baja California. This project will help reduce water pollution and the risk of transboundary wastewater flows into the United States.

The second project consists of the expansion and rehabilitation of the wastewater collection and treatment system in the city of Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas, benefitting approximately 12,354 residents of this border community. The main components of the project include construction of a new wastewater treatment plant with the capacity to treat 0.59 million gallons a day (mgd) and expansion of the sewer system to provide first-time access to wastewater services to 2,644 homes in unserved areas of the city, among other improvements.

Altogether, these two projects will receive US$6.93 million in grants through the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by NADB.

The third project consists of expanding the sanitary landfill in Maverick County, Texas, by opening the third cell. The landfill serves the entire county, so the project will benefit all 54,258 residents by providing additional capacity to continue managing the proper disposal of approximately 150 tons of solid waste a day. NADB will provide a loan for up to US$2.92 million to Maverick County, as well as a US$150,000 grant through NADB’s Community Assistance Program (CAP).

Original source: NADB
Published on 30 May 2019