BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is stepping up efforts to address water security challenges in Kyrgyzstan with a 17 million euro investment aimed at modernizing infrastructure in the country's northern regions, Trend reports.
This financial package includes a loan of up to 7.6 million euros and a matching grant, which will be used to improve water supply systems, upgrade pumping stations, and install water meters in the municipalities of Kemin and Shopokov. Additionally, the funds will help restore wastewater treatment and sewage facilities in Talas, significantly enhancing the region’s water and sanitation infrastructure.
As part of the project, the EBRD will also provide up to 1.8 million euros in technical cooperation grant funding to support the implementation of the projects and strengthen the capacity of municipal utilities in these cities. This initiative comes at a time when water management is becoming increasingly crucial in Kyrgyzstan, where freshwater sources are heavily dependent on glacial melts that are being affected by global warming.
Hüseyin Özhan, EBRD Managing Director for Central Asia, expressed the Bank's continued commitment to the Kyrgyz water sector: "I am very proud that our Bank is a leading lender to the country’s water sector. We have already supported 31 water projects across 26 cities in Kyrgyzstan, with an investment exceeding 190 million euros, improving access to clean water and wastewater services for thousands of households and businesses".
The EBRD has been actively engaged in Kyrgyzstan since 1992, with total investments nearing 998 million euros in over 250 projects, particularly in sustainable infrastructure and private sector development. The latest water-focused initiative is expected to contribute significantly to improving water security and sustainability for the country’s growing population.