EU and EBRD to support water modernisation programme in Romania

Water company Nova Apaserv has secured support from the EU Cohesion Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for its €102.5m regional water investment programme in Botosani, Romania.

The EU Cohesion Fund will invest up to €80.9m, while the EBRD will provide a €7.4m loan to modernise and upgrade water and wastewater services in the north-east county.

The investment is anticipated to reduce water losses, optimise operating costs, and expand water supply and wastewater collection and treatment services.

The company aims for a 90% connection rate for water and wastewater for the population, together with a minimum water and wastewater quality compliance of 95% also.

Nova Apaserv general manager Gabriel Cirlan said: "The implementation of the project supports the development of Nova Apaserv as a regional water operator and represents an important step in ensuring provision of quality water and wastewater services in Botosani, adding to the successful long-standing partnership with the bank which began in 1997."

The EBRD’s loan is being provided under the bank’s Romania EU Cohesion Funds Water Co-Financing Framework, which was launched in 2010.

Nova Apaserv is the twentieth company in Romania to benefit from the framework, which intends to assist in the modernisation of water and wastewater services.

The EBRD has to date invested about €272m under the framework, and has mobilised over €1.86bn of EU funding in Romania’s water and wastewater facilities.