EBRD to provide €20m loan to improve water services in Romania

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed to provide a €20m to a project that involves upgrading water and wastewater services in Romania’s Buzau county.

The EBRD loan will be awarded to the regional water and wastewater utility SC Compania de Apa SA Buzau.

With the proceeds, the local utility will work to increase access to water and wastewater services, particularly, for the small communities with less than 10,000 people.

Additionally, the project works will reduce water losses as well as boost wastewater treatment capabilities.

Overall, more than 210,000 people to benefit from upgrades.

The EBRD loan was awarded as part of a €293m regional investment programme with the European Union (EU).

EBRD has been investing to improve Romanian water infrastructure since 1995. To date, it has awarded around €500m in loans to 24 water operators.

Furthermore, it has also allocated more than €2bn of EU funding for the country’s water and wastewater facilities.

To date, the financial institution has invested more than €8.3 billion in Romania.

The EBRD support comes at a time when the world is struggling to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

As of 27 April, more than 11,000 people in Romania are infected by the disease. The death toll stands at 619.

Globally, the number of confirmed cases is now nearing three million, while fatalities have crossed 200,000.