The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union’s financing institution, has provided EUR 20 million for schemes to upgrade the environmental operating conditions of seven drinking water treatment plants in northern and central Morocco, including the major Bou Regreg complex serving the cities of Rabat and Casablanca. The guarantee and finance contracts were signed on 26 December 2002 in Rabat by the Minister of Finance and Privatisation, Mr Oualalou, the Chief Executive of Office National de l’Eau Potable (ONEP), Mr Fassi Fihri, and EIB Vice President, Francis Mayer.
This ONEP-promoted project will markedly improve the drinking water treatment system by eliminating environmentally hazardous wastewater discharges and ensuring more efficient use of a key natural resource for the well-being of Morocco’s population and economy.
The project is expected to have a substantial environmental impact, justifying the granting of an interest subsidy financed from EU budgetary resources. This fourth EIB loan signed with ONEP brings the total amount advanced by the Bank to this utility to EUR 160 million. It illustrates the importance that the EIB attaches, in common with all EU Member States, to supporting the water sector in Morocco, and complements upstream the Bank’s numerous operations in favour of agricultural irrigation and sanitation projects, so covering all stages of the water cycle.
All enquiries relating to procurement should be addressed directly to promoters.
