EBRD and EU grant EUR 63 mln for water and sewerage services in Romania

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union’s Cohesion Fund will co-finance a EUR 72.9 million project carried out by local utilities company Secom Drobeta-Turnu Severin for modernizing the water and sewerage services in the Mehedinti county. Within the project, EBRD will grant a long-term loan of EUR 5.7 million, whereas the European Union will contribute with a grant of EUR 57.1 million. The Romanian state will give EUR 8.7 million, whereas EUR 1.4 million will be paid from the local budget. Secom plans to expand and modernize the water and sewerage network in 10 cities and villages, including Drobeta Turnu Severin and Baia de Arama. The funds will be used for improvement work at four water treatment plants, for the construction of 13 new water pumping stations, 10 new reservoirs, and 27 wastewater pumping stations. Over 200 kilometers of water and sewage networks will be rehabilitated and expanded. More than 15,000 people will be connected to the water network and almost 30,000 will have access to sewerage services. Secom is the 24th regional water operator in Romania to receive financing under the EBRD’s Romania EU Cohesion Fund Water Co-Financing Framework (R2CF). The facility was approved in November 2010 with a volume of EUR 200 million and further increased by EUR 130 million in September 2012 following strong local demand. editor@romania-insider.com