Morocco given water supply loan by EBRD

The Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) of Morocco has been granted a €65m loan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to support the expansion of drinking water supply services in the country.

The loan will be used to improve drinking water connections for over 480,000 people in Azilal, Ben Guerir and Ouarzazate and in 260 rural communities. The project will also enhance water supply to urban areas.

The bank will also support the third phase of the company’s performance improvement programme, which is aimed at enhancing the quality of services in terms of production and distribution of drinking water.

EBRD director for municipal and environmental infrastructure Jean-Patrick Marquet said that the project will increase the availability of drinking water in rural communities.

"It will also improve access to economic opportunities for people in regions that are less developed, which will strengthen social inclusion," Marquet added.

ONEE head of finances Nawal Khalifa said: "This is the bank’s second project with ONEE to provide electricity and water to urban and rural areas."

Financed by donor grants, the project is complemented by a €4.5m comprehensive technical assistance programme.

The funds, from the Austrian Government and the EBRD’s SEMED Cooperation Fund and SEMED Multi-Donor Account, will facilitate the project’s implementation and enable the development of a stakeholder participation programme as well as a financial and operational performance improvement programme.