Published: 28 January 2015 г.
Loan from EBRD and grants from European Union and EBRD Shareholder Special Fund to fund improvements to water supply and wastewater services. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union are investing in water infrastructure of the Kyrgyz city of Tokmok, expanding their comprehensive investment programme to help cities in the Kyrgyz Republic improve water and wastewater services for their residents.
Tokmok is a city in the Chuy Valley, east of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, with a population of over 55,800. Water losses are huge and the city’s water supply and wastewater infrastructure are in urgent need of significant investment.
The EBRD/EU investment will address these problems by modernising parts of the infrastructure to improve the quality of the water supply and implementing measures in regard to wastewater services. While the EBRD is providing a loan of up to ?2 million, the EU Investment Facility for Central Asia and the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund are providing capital grants of ?3.1 million in total.
In addition, the municipal water company will receive technical cooperation funding from the
EBRD Water Fund and EBRD Shareholder Special Fund.
“Like many other places in Central Asia, Tokmok has abundant sources of water. The challenge is to ensure that clean, safe water reaches people without interruption, and to restore wastewater management. The project we are supporting will greatly improve people’s lives,” said Larisa Manastirli, Head of the EBRD Bishkek Resident Office.
Askarbek Toktoshev, Director of the Department of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation at the Government of the Kyrgyz Republicsaid:“Loan and grant financing from the EBRD and the EU will help improving the water sector in Tokmok. We will prioritise the implementation of projects to upgrade the drinking water supply and the sewerage system in the city.”
The modernisation of water and wastewater services in Kyrgyz cities is a priority for the EBRD’s work in the country and the Bank has developed a dedicated financing facility for this purpose. At present, the EBRD has provided financing for six cities in the Kyrgyz Republic to support critical investments in water supply and wastewater networks. It is considering further expansion throughout the country to smaller cities.
All of these projects are made possible by investment grants provided by the
European Union and other donors such as
Switzerland.