The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the modernisation of municipal infrastructure in the Georgian resort town of Kobuleti with a €2.2 million loan to finance the upgrade of its wastewater infrastructure.
The funds will be provided to Kobuleti Water Company, the local water supply and wastewater utility, for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in the town. The project will be implemented by the Municipal Development Fund (MDF), a project implementation agency under the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, with the EBRD contributing project management and implementation support.
In addition, technical cooperation grants from the EBRD Water Fund have been made available for the implementation of a feasibility analysis and for environmental and social assessment. The Government of the Czech Republic is providing further funding for project management and implementation support to MDF
Kobuleti, a summer resort on the Black Sea coast, has developed into a major tourist destination in recent years, popular with locals and with visitors from neighbouring countries. The town’s sustainable growth will require significant development of infrastructure to service the needs of residents and the growing number of visitors.
The upgrade of the wastewater infrastructure will also reduce pollution in sea water and have a positive impact on public health. The latest methods in wastewater treatment will enable the controlled discharge of treated wastewater – an essential step towards establishing a benchmark for environmental standards on the Black Sea coast.
“The project is another demonstration of the EBRD's commitment to Georgia’s regional and local development. Improving sanitation in the water system is an important part of the Bank’s strategy in Georgia, where the aim is to further develop municipal infrastructure to improve quality of life and unlock economic growth in the country,” said Bruno Balvanera, EBRD Director for the Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus.
The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Georgia. Since the start of its operations in the country, the Bank has invested over €2.66 billion in 188 projects in the financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 88 per cent of these investments in the private sector.