Almost 80,000 people from four municipalities across the Kyrgyz Republic will have regular access to safe drinking water as a result of projects supported by the EBRD and the European Union.
The investments will deliver better water and wastewater management services to the municipalities of Jalal Abad, Myrza-Ake, Kurshab and Don Bulak
They will also achieve a reduction of water losses, improve energy efficiency and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.
In some of these municipalities, water supply systems have not been refurbished for a quarter of a century and up to 40 percent of local households consume untreated water from open sources.
A 15-year loan of up to €2 million by the EBRD and a grant of up to €3 million from the European Union (EU) will finance a number of critical water supply system improvements, including the renovation of networks, household metering and the procurement of operational and maintenance equipment.
The financial package also includes a €4 million EBRD loan and a €4.1 million grant from the EU to finance further critical water and wastewater investments in Jalal Abad, including the rehabilitation of water and wastewater networks, metering, the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and the purchase of laboratory equipment. The investment will also support the city in developing a social support program for low-income customers, and the introduction of a new tariff methodology.
To date, the EBRD has invested €744 million in the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, with a majority of investments supporting private entrepreneurship. Over €153 million has been invested in 19 water projects across the country.
Original source: EBRD
Published on 23 May 2019
