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More than 200 000 people will be able to access clean water directly for the first time once a new project backed by the European Investment Bank is operational. Europe’s long-term lending institution will provide EUR 21 million to expand clean water supply in Niamey, capital of the West African state of Niger. The project will also ensure clean water for the city during the dry season, when existing water distribution cannot cope with demand.

The project will be implemented by state water utility, Société de Patrimoine des Eaux du Niger. Existing water treatment facilities will be expanded to enable an additional 40 000 m3 of clean water a day to be available and new connections provided to residents living in the outskirts of Niamey who have never before had direct piped access to clean drinking water. Existing water storage and distribution infrastructure will also be improved under the new initiative.

Financial documents were signed on 11 December at the EIB’s headquarters in Luxembourg by H.E. Amadou Boubacar Cissé, Minister of State, and senior bank representatives.

“Water is essential for life and investment to improve access to clean water in the Sahel is essential. This new project marks the first support for water investment in Niger, and the Bank’s largest ever engagement in the country. The new initiative will benefit residents across the capital Niamey and allow existing water treatment to cope with demand during summer months,” said EIB Director General and Deputy Head of Operations, Jean-Christophe Laloux.

Minister Cissé also used the visit to the EIB to discuss future strategic developments in the water sectors in his country with Bank experts and investment needs in other sectors in Niger. “This is a very important project for a developing country and I am very happy to sign this loan,” he said. “On behalf of the Government of Niger I would like to thank and congratulate the EIB teams who worked on our water programme, and I hope it is just the starting point for future programmes we can develop with the Bank.”

The Bank is also providing technical assistance for a water master plan for the city of Niamey, under a new scheme expected to start early next year.

In the last five years, the EIB has provided nearly EUR 500 million for long-term investment in water infrastructure across Africa. This is improving the health of millions of people in Burkina Faso, Lesotho, Mali and Uganda.

The Bank has unique technical and financial experience of supporting water investment gained from providing more than EUR 20 billion to support water investment across Europe and around the world. This enables best-practice to be shared between projects and implementation of new and ambitious schemes enhanced.