Germany offers €7m to rehabilitate Batumi’s water systems

The German aid will also be used to improve the water quality of the Black Sea. Photo by N. Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Agenda.ge, 19 Sep 2016 - 17:32, Tbilisi,Georgia

Germany is stepping up its financial support for Georgia by pledging millions of Euro to improve the water systems in the country’s Black Sea resort town Batumi.

After providing a €30 million grant last year to rehabilitate the drinking water and sewage systems in Batumi, Germany confirmed an additional €7 million for the same cause.

Germany is continuing to contribute to Batumi’s sustainable development to improve the living conditions of its residents. We should protect Batumi’s natural resources, which is also good for developing international tourism,” said Germany’s Ambassador to Georgia Heike Peitsch.

The extra financial contribution was solidified last week when Georgia’s Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri and Christian Schaub, a representative of the German government-owned development bank (KfW) signed an agreement.

Through this deal Germany promised to fund the Adjara climate change program - coastal protection - The drainage system’s Phase II project.

Georgia’s Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri and Christian Schaub, a representative of the KfW are signing the agreement. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Finance. 

Part of the project would improve drainage in Batumi to reduce the risk of flooding in Georgia’s third largest town. The German aid will also be used to improve the water quality of the Black Sea.

The German government has supported the rehabilitation of Batumi’s utility infrastructure since 2007. The main focus of the aid was to rehabilitate municipal infrastructure facilities in Batumi and surrounding villages to improve the water supply, sewerage and wastewater disposal systems.

So far Germany has provided a €119 million loan and €30 million grant to Georgia for this project.

This work has been carried out in four phases. When all phases are 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.