EU offers €8m to develop Georgian water infrastructure

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso signed an €80 million (192 million GEL) water infrastructure development project agreement in Tbilisi today.

The European Union (EU) will contribute €8 million (19 million GEL) to the Water Modernisation II project to improve the quality of the water and ensure 200,000 citizens in 28 towns across Georgia have access to a constant supply of water.

The water project aimed to ensure residents in all urban areas receive a reliable and safe water supply, 24 hours per day, in every household by 2020.

The remaining cost of the project will be financed by the European Investment Bank – who will provide Georgia with a €40 million (96 million GEL) loan – and the Asian Development Bank, who will offer a €32 million (77 million GEL) loan.

To date 28 towns located in the following regions will benefit from the project: Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Guria; Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti; Kakheti; Shida Kartli; Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti. The project will reach main towns and small villages as well.

Eventually, the Government aimed for all Georgian citizens to have access to a safe and reliable water supply.

The Water Modernisation II project is the continuation of the already implemented Water Modernisation I project.

The new project, which was agreed upon today, will take about five years to implement. When completed, it will have achieved key results, including upgrading the existing water supply network, connecting new users to the network, establishing a longer or even permanent water supply and a reduction in water losses that will strengthen the provision in water.

The EU also contributed €8.5 million (20.4 million GEL) to the Water Supply and Sewerage of Batumi and surrounding Villages project.