Germany offers €30m loan to rehabilitate water systems in Batumi

Georgian residents in coastal Batumi will soon drink fresh, clean water and have their sewage systems restored thanks to a multi-million Euro loan from Germany.

Today Germany confirmed a €30 million (about 80 million GEL) loan to Georgia to rehabilitate the drinking water and sewage systems in the Black Sea resort town.

This financial deal was solidified when Georgia and the German government-owned development bank (KfW) signed an agreement to allocate a €30 million preferential loan to Georgia.

The German government has supported the rehabilitation of Batumi’s utility infrastructure since 2007.

The first two phases of a larger rehabilitation project has already been completed, while the third phase is currently underway. Today’s agreement was signed in order to plan the implementation of the fourth and final phase of works.

Once the fourth phase is completed in 2018, more than 200,000 residents of Batumi will enjoy a clean, safe and reliable drinking water supply and a renewed sewage system.

In total the German government has allocated more than €140 million (about 367 GEL) for this project.

Additionally the European Union has provided €8.5 million (about 22 million GEL) for developing Batumi’s water infrastructure.

With this money new reservoirs and a modern, energy efficient treatment plant has been built in several villages in the Adjara region.

In Batumi, earlier rehabilitation works saw rehabilitation of sewage pumps and installation of new pipes for drinking water and sewage. From this Batumi’s residents now enjoy a constant, reliable supply of clean drinking water.