The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has injected €55 million towards upgrading sanitation standards in Egypt. A statement from the EBRD headquarters in London, on Monday claimed the bank is improving the living standards of almost 500,000 inhabitants of the Egyptian towns of Motobas, Desouk and Burullus with a €55 million loan for the expansion of wastewater treatment in the northern governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh. The funding will support the construction of two new wastewater plants, the expansion of three existing plants and the installation of 700 km of pipes and 52 pumping stations, it said. The total cost of the investment programme is €164 million. In addition to the EBRD financing, the European Investment Bank is providing a loan of €77 million and the EU Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) is making a grant of €32 million. Egypt's sewage infrastructure serves only 40 percent of the country's population. In addition, access to sanitation is distributed unevenly, while 90 percent of the existing sanitation network covering urban and rural areas remain underserved and are facing significant environmental threats and health risks. Source: Star Africa
