Romania gets another EUR 48 mln from World Bank to fight nitrate pollution

Romania has received an additional financing of EUR 48 million from the World Bank to combat nitrate pollution of water bodies and protect the rural environment. Cyril Muller, World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia, and Anca Dragu, Romania’s finance minister, signed the loan agreement for additional financing for the Integrated Nutrient Pollution Control Project. The financing complements the initial project of EUR 50 million. It aims to help the country reduce the discharge of chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. “Romania continues to have extensive agricultural production on small-size farms, which raises the challenge of how production practices are applied with respect to the environment”, said Anca Dragu. Some 30,000 small firms will benefit from support to collect and manage manure, to create compost units and treat the waste water in about 100 villages exposed to nitrate pollution. Romania borrows EUR 48 mln from IBRD to reduce nutrient pollution editor@romania-insider.com