The European Investment Bank (EIB) announces a further
long-term loan of EUR 150 million(
1)
(BEF 6 billion), 75 million of which will be made
immediately available, to Aquafin, the company
responsible for managing wastewater treatment facilities
in Flanders.
The finance contract was signed on 7 March 2000 at the
EIB's head office in Luxembourg by Mr Ivo
Van Vaerenbergh, Chairman of Aquafin, Mr Jacques De
Greef, Deputy Managing Director of Aquafin and Mr Rudolf
de Korte, EIB Vice-President.
The conclusion of this fourth loan, arranged in
collaboration with Crédit Communal de Belgique,
brings to EUR 470 million (BEF 19 billion) aggregate EIB
lending since 1994 for the programme initiated and
carried out by Aquafin.
This large-scale investment project encompasses
construction and modernisation of mains sewers, pumping
stations and sewage treatment facilities throughout the
Region of Flanders. Of considerable public interest, it
will ultimately serve a population of 6 million. Aquafin,
established in 1990 at the initiative of the Belgian
Government, currently manages 167 sewage treatment works
and some 3 140 km of mains sewers. After 9 years of
activity, 936 projects have been implemented on behalf of
the Flemish Community, involving capital investment of
EUR 932 million (BEF 37.6 billion), actual spending on
which to date runs to EUR 220 million (BEF 8.9 billion).
Aquafin is financing the balance of EUR 712 million (BEF
28.7 billion), primarily through long-term credit. Today,
more than 45% of the Region's wastewater is treated
before disposal, compared to 33% before Aquafin was set
up.
Furthermore, this investment will have a positive
effect on water quality in the North Sea. In keeping with
the international campaign spearheaded by the 1985
“Convention on the North Sea” (aimed at
reducing the level of marine pollution), it will help to
safeguard the common heritage of several EU countries.
This project typifies EIB support for environmental
protection. Over the past five years, the Bank has
committed EUR 31.5 billion (more than BEF 1 270
billion) for this purpose, the bulk going to the water
management (construction of sewerage and sewage treatment
systems) and solid-waste processing sectors. Loans have
also been extended for improving the quality of life in
urban areas and introducing less pollutant means of
production in the energy, chemicals, petrochemicals and
automotive industries.
For further information, please contact
the EIB's Information and Communications Department (Mrs Sabine Parisse, tel.: +352 43
79 31 38, e-mail: s.parisse@eib.org).
Information on Aquafin's projects can
be obtain directly from Aquafin (Mr Lutgart Dusar, tel.:
+32 3 450 47 67).
(1) EUR 1 = FRF 6.55957; GBP 0.6217
