| Project Detail |
Project Description
Provision of a sovereign loan of up to EUR 84 million to Minsk Vodokanal (UE "Minskvodokanal" or "Company"), a municipal enterprise wholly owned by the City of Minsk (the "City"), to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Minsk wastewater facilities. The proposed EBRD loan will be co-financed in equal amount by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The EBRD loan will be used to co-finance: (i) reconstruction of the Minsk wastewater treatment plant to eliminate odour, optimise use of the existing facilities and enhance wastewater treatment efficiency of the plant in line with national and EU requirements; and (ii) construction of sludge treatment facilities (including digestion, dewatering, drying and incineration) in line with EU best available techniques on the premises of the wastewater facilities.
Project Objectives
The Project aims to rehabilitate the existing wastewater treatment plant to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency and its performance, and construct a cost efficient, modern sludge management and disposal facility, including energy and heat recovery technology from sludge biogas utilisation in the City.
Implementation of the Project aims to provide environmental benefits and improve social conditions in the project area of influence. In particular, the following positive effects are envisaged:
More reliable waste water disposal services and more efficient waste water treatment;
Improved quality of life across the Project area;
Significant reduction of impacts on local communities and environment, including air, soil and ground water, River Svisloch and its ecosystems (and subsequently the Dnieper River and the Black Sea basin) as well as minimization of odour emissions;
Reduction of risks to community health and safety related to the wastewater plant operations, enhanced safety of the Companys operational sites;
More efficient use of natural resources due to a reduction of water losses and enhanced energy saving performance of the processes, utilization of energy content of the wastes;
Improved working conditions and enhanced OHS performance at the Companys facilities;
Employment generation at contractor companies for the period of construction;
Procurement opportunities generated for national and local businesses during project implementation;
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the long run.
The Project will facilitate the advancement of tariff reform and improvement of the Companys corporate governance and capacity. The Project also aims to introduce better contractual arrangements between the Company and the City.
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