EBRD considers 20 mln euro loan for wastewater treatment project in Croatia

The total cost of the project is estimated at 60 million euro, the EBRD said in a statement.

The target board date for approving the EBRD's share of the financing is November 13.

The loan will be extended to Zagrebacke Otpadne Vode, the company providing wastewater treatment services to Zagreb and the neighbouring city of Sveta Nedelja under a concession agreement.

"The project includes investments to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment facilities to include tertiary treatment which will result with significant reduction in nutrients (Nitrogen &Phosphorus) returned to the natural environment to meet the EU/National environmental standards," the EBRD said.

The project is a follow-on operation to the EBRD's previous projects for the construction and capacity increase of Zagreb's central wastewater treatment plant, the bank explained.

The project is also expected to improve Zagrebacke Otpadne Vode's energy efficiency since the biological technology for wastewater treatment will also provide sludge fermentation for biogas generation, as well as a combined heat and power station for the generation of electricity to minimise energy costs and residual materials.

($=0.906537 euro)