EIB invests for wastewater treatment in Kosovo

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is investing €11m ($12.3m) in Kosovo to strengthen its wastewater management system.

The investment will serve over 90,000 people in the municipality of Gjilan/Gnjilane in Kosovo by offering them affordable access to water and wastewater services.

The development plan will enable the construction of a wastewater treatment plant with a related sewerage network.

It will also support the revitalisation of important infrastructure in the environmental protection sector.

The financial assistance from EIB is expected to lower local water pollution, including the risk of trans-border water contamination.

The aim is to enhance the quality of public health and also the resilience to natural disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under EIB’s Economic Resilience Initiative, the investment focuses on the improvement of vital infrastructure in the Western Balkans, supporting social and economic progress in the region.

EU and EIB aim to develop the Western Balkans by supporting environmental infrastructure.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) co-financed the project with €10m ($11.2m).

In order to facilitate project preparation and implementation, the project will receive a €3.1m ($3.4m) from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

Republic of Kosovo Minister of Finance and Transfer Besnik Beslimi said: “The Kosovo Government intends to finance in the medium term the transformation of the wastewater sector in order to improve the quality of life of its citizens and protect the environment for the future generations.

“We are keen on financing the wastewater projects with European Investment Bank as a partner that has a long track record and reputation for financing water projects.

“The Gjilan/Gnjilane project signed today and the project of Mitrovica that is going to be signed later this year are in accordance with our Water Strategy.”