EBRD lends EUR 186 mn for Fayoum wastewater treatment project
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending the Fayoum Water and Wastewater Company EUR 186 mn to develop and expand its wastewater services. The loan is complemented with a EUR 172 mn loan from the European Investment Bank, with the EU Neighbourhood Investment Facility extending an investment grant of EUR 30 mn and over EUR 7 mn for technical assistance. EBRD says the funding will support the construction of eight new wastewater treatment plants, the expansion of nine units and the rehabilitation of 10 plants as well as the installation of 3,433 km of pipes and 139 pumping stations. In addition, 350 sewage removal trucks will be procured to serve remote rural communities. The project will increase the Fayoum Water and Wastewater Company output by almost 300k cubic metres per day and increase the number of Fayoum residents with access to sanitation to almost 90% from just over 30% currently. The project will also reduce pollution levels at Lake Qarun.