December 2 (SeeNews) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said that it is providing a 12.5 million euro ($13.75 million) loan in two tranches to Apa Canal 2000 Pitesti, a regional water operator in Arges county.
Apa Canal will use the proceeds of the loan to co-finance its 161.8 million euro programme for investment in wastewater infrastructure and services, the EBRD said in a press release on Friday.
The investment programme aims to upgrade and expand water supply and wastewater treatment services, with a focus on small communities of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. More than 2,000 residents will get access to a water supply network for the first time.
The company also aims to cut its annual water losses by 5.2 million cu m and to treat an additional 1.0 million cu m of wastewater per year.
In addition, the loan will help develop an asset management system, including a software application to increase Apa Canal’s operational efficiency, the EBRD added.
The financing is being provided under the EBRD’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Facility.
($= 0.9088 euro)