EIB to grant €100m to Aquafin for wastewater treatment projects in Belgium

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide €100m to Belgian wastewater treatment company Aquafin in support of its projects in the Flemish Region.

The funds will be used for the development of collectors, dealing with sewage infrastructure issues, separation of stray water and rain water in the sewage network, construction of new treatment facilities and renovation of existing facilities.

The loan is the second phase of a €200m facility signed in December 2014, and the ninth operation with the latest funding.

EIB vice-president Pim van Ballekom said: "The first collaboration between Aquafin and the EIB dates back to 1994 and the bank has since become an important player in the drinking and waste water sectors in Belgium. I’m glad that we can contribute to the important work that Aquafin is doing, which all too often is not very visible with the wider public.

"Even since her founding in 1990 Aquafin has managed to raise the percentage of water being treated from 30% to over 80% and the investment we’re doing today is a tangible implication of the European and Belgian priorities for man and nature."

Aquafin has been awarded a yearly project plan since 2010 by the Flemish Region in its efforts to expand and optimise inter-municipal infrastructure for wastewater treatment.

The Flemish Region is aiming to reduce the financial burden on the municipalities by taking over sewage infrastructure investments and having the projects implemented by Aquafin.

Aquafin managing director Luc Bossyns said: "In 2015 the Flemish Region heightened the budget within the local pact framework by €150m, spread out over five years. As of the next programming year we will therefore receive another €130m worth of this kind of projects for a five-year period.

"To meet these goals we find institutional investors who are willing to invest in our projects, but half of our financing needs is still being met by the EIB, which means that this new €100m operation is extremely important for Aquafin as well as for Flanders."

In November 2012, EIB and Aquafin signed the first part of a €50m ($63.8m) loan to fund sanitation, wastewater and water projects in the Flemish Region.

The first installment was part of €200m loan over a period of 30 years to finance various projects, such as building of wastewater treatment plants, additional sanitation of various discharge locations and installation of rainwater piping to improve existing infrastructure.