The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Nilsa, a public company under the auspices of the Department of Territorial Cohesion of the Government of Navarra, have signed a €36.5 million loan to finance the construction and modernisation of wastewater treatment facilities in the region.
The loan will mainly be used to improve and renovate existing wastewater treatment facilities, some of which are almost thirty years old, to the treatment of sludge from wastewater and, to the construction of new facilities in towns with more than 100 inhabitants and up to 250 inhabitants. From 250 inhabitants onwards, Navarra has wastewater treatment in all its towns and villages.
This loan is another example of how the EIB contributes to environmental sustainability and helps create a circular economy in vital areas such as effective wastewater management. In the case of Navarra, the installation of solar panels at wastewater treatment plants has been assessed as a support measure to comply with the European objective of carbon neutrality in the wastewater treatment process. The treatment of sludges for soil application will be fostered with the consequent benefit for agriculture and the environment. The use of sludges will also generate savings for farmers as part of a process that pays special attention to the circular economy.
