CLUJ COUNTY WATER AND WASTEWATER (FL 2015-0548)

Major allocation under SPL Romania EU Co-financing for Environment 2014-20, "Cluj and Salaj Counties II-Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investments for 2014-2020."

The project will improve and extend the water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Cluj and Salaj counties, within the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme 2014-2020, in order to accelerate the progress of complying with Romania's commitments in the EU Accession Treaty and bringing the sector in line with the standards set by Directive 91/271/EEC and Directive 98/83/EC.

The EIB financing will support the project "Cluj and Salaj Counties II-Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investments for 2014-2020". The project is financed from the Cohesion Fund under the Large Infrastructure Operational Program (LIOP) 2014-2020. The Project will provide a significant positive environmental and public health impact and contribute to meeting the country's needs in the water and sanitation sectors, including compliance with EU environmental legislation, in particular the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, the Drinking Water Directive and the Water Framework Directive. The Project will generate substantial economic benefits, which mostly consist of: (i) improved access to compliant drinking water and (ii) improved sanitation and quality of surface water. The estimated number of beneficiaries is about 765,000. The Project will also contribute to climate action by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is in line with the Bank's lending orientation for the water sector. In addition to the advisory support provided by JASPERS, the EIB financial contribution to the Project alongside EU funds and the Regional Operator's contribution, also financed by the Bank through a direct loan, will help accelerate the investment by offering long-term financing at favourable conditions in comparison to the financial market. 

The project is expected to have a significant positive environmental and public health impact and contribute to meeting the country's need in the water and sanitation sector, in relation to compliance with EU environmental legislation.

The Bank will require the borrower to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project are tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation (Directive 2014/25/EU, as well as Directives 92/13/EEC and 89/665/EEC) as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union, with the publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), as and where required.

This allocation finances the State Contribution to this project. The Bank is also financing the local contribution through a loan to the regional water operator (ROC) COMPANIA DE APA SOMES SA (ROC Cluj-Salaj).