The ISPA Financing Memoranda for the integrated water projects in Burgas and Ruse to be signed on Wednesday

The ISPA Financing Memoranda for integrated water projects in Burgas and Ruse with total amount of MEUR 67.8 for which the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will act as an Implementation Agency will be signed on 11 January 2006. The projects for Burgas and Ruse were developed in 2005 in the framework of the ISPA measure “Technical support for institutional stabilization and preparation of investment projects in the Waters and Waste sectors for financing by ISPA/EU Cohesion Fund”. The project for integrated water management in Burgas amounts to MEUR 21. It has been financed with MEUR 10 (48 %) by ISPA Program and is co-financed with MEUR 11 (52 %) through a Loan Agreement of WSS – Burgas with EBRD. The project in Burgas envisages rehabilitation and enlarging of parts of the WSS net including rehabilitation of a pressure reservoir “Izgrev” as well as construction of a tertiary step of the existing waste water treatment plant. The project for integrated water management in Ruse amounts to MEUR 46.8 of which MEUR 35.1 has been envisaged under ISPA program (75 %), MEUR 8.6 (17%) – by a loan from EBRD and MEUR 3.1 (8 %) – from the state budget. The basic components of the Ruse project are the construction of a new sewage treatment plant as well as rehabilitation and widening of parts of the WSS net. The tender procedures for construction and supervision for the separate components of the two projects are expected to start by the end of 2006. The Memoranda will be signed by the Minister of Finance and National ISPA Coordinator Mr. Plamen Oresharski and the European Commission Ambassador to Bulgaria – H.E. Mr. Dimitris Kurkulas. Public Relations and International Activities Directorate