EIB supports rehabilitation and extension of regional water supply and sanitation services in Alba County in Romania

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €12m to the Alba County Regional Water Company to finance, in conjunction with Cohesion Policy funds, upgrades in drinking water supply and sanitation services for some 332,000 people in Romania’s Alba County.

This transaction is backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe, or “Juncker Plan”.

EIB Vice-President Andrew McDowell commented: “I am pleased to announce our support for this project which will greatly improve the quality of water services in Alba County and is the first public sector operation in Romania to be backed by the Juncker Plan. Not only will the works have a sizable impact on the public health of people, but they will also render the local water infrastructure more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.”

This project, which is expected to cost €114m in total, includes the rehabilitation of water intake, the expansion of the water network by 55 km, as well as the extension and rehabilitation of 115 km of water mains and two water treatment plants. In addition, the sewerage network in the region will be extended by 100 km. Finally, the investment will help renovate 49 pumping stations and build two new wastewater treatment plants.

The rehabilitation of the principal water pipes and sewers will reduce leaks and infiltrations and increase the energy efficiency of the systems, thus contributing to climate change mitigation.

Original source: European Commission
Published on 06 March 2019