Five Romanian cities modernize their water and wastewater services

A new loan agreement was signed in Bucharest by EBRD President Suma Chakarratti and the Director General of Romania’s Water and Wastewater Regional Operator S.C. RAJA S.A.RAJA Felix Straw. Romanian citizens and the environment will benefit from a EUR 25 million investment for the improvement of water supply and wastewater treatment, as well as reduction of water losses.

RAJA is the largest public water and wastewater utility in Romania and it serves over 3 million people in eight cities: Constanza, Yalomita, Calarasi, Ilfov, Dambovica, Brasov, Prahova and Baku. The company is now the first regional water operator in the country to receive funding under the EBRD Framework for Sustainable Water Infrastructure (SWIFT). The loan comes based on the long-term work of the bank with Romanian water companies, and is aimed at bringing the sector in line with EU laws, policies and practices. 

The loan will be used for co-financing with the EU Cohesion Fund to expand and rehabilitate the services of the water supply and wastewater treatment company, from which will benefit 400 000 households. The funding will also support a water efficiency program that aims to reduce water losses by more than 300 000 cubic meters per year and reduce 8400 tons of CO2 equivalent by 2025. At present, the EBRD funds 24 water operators in Romania, providing a total of EUR 330 million in loans and mobilising over EUR 2 billion of EU funding for the country’s water and wastewater facilities.

To date, EBRD has invested nearly EUR 8 billion in the country in more than 400 projects, making it one of the largest investors in the country. In 2017 alone, it invested EUR 550 million in Romania. Of that, more than EUR 500 million is provided to the private sector, which is the highest level seen in the last seven years.