The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a sovereign loan of up to €20 million to the state-owned utility company Regional Water Company Bifurkacioni in Kosovo. The Bank will finance the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and improvements of the sewerage system in the city of Ferizaj and the surrounding areas.
The new wastewater treatment plant and improved sewerage system will meet the relevant European Union (EU) standards and bring better sanitation services to up to 90,000 residents. The project will help curb pollution by reducing the amount of untreated wastewater reaching the Nerodime river. This will also prevent fresh water sources from being polluted, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the natural decay of untreated wastewater discharge.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has provided a grant of €150,000 to support the client with project preparation. The EBRD is set to support the client in securing additional technical cooperation grants for procurement support, corporate development and project implementation.
Kosovo’s municipal infrastructure has historically suffered from severe underinvestment in wastewater services, leading to growing environmental concerns and public health risks. Together with the Kosovan government, the EBRD aims to close the country’s investment gap in water and wastewater infrastructure, bringing its utility sector up to the relevant EU standards.
The EBRD’s strategic priorities in Kosovo are to promote the green economy, support the competitive development of the private sector and foster regional integration. To date, the Bank has invested more than €630 million in Kosovo through more than 100 projects, the majority of which have been in the private sector.
