- EU bank to support in BW’s 2018-2022 investment programme to the tune of EUR 80 million;
- Some 50 projects in the areas of water management, the circular economy and economic expansion;
- Partnership benefits local population with rapid low-cost schemes.
The intermunicipal association in BW and the European Investment Bank (EIB) jointly announced on Monday 19 November 2018 in Nivelles, in the presence of Local Authorities Minister Valérie De Bue, the approval by the EIB’s Board of Directors of a financial partnership supporting in BW’s multiannual investment programme in the areas of water management, the circular economy and economic expansion.
Combating climate change, developing quality urban and rural environments, fostering entrepreneurship in the regions, alongside local actors for the benefit of the people, are top priorities of the EIB’s activity. And it is under this heading, and in support of these policies, that the EU’s financing institution has forged a long-term partnership with in BW.
The quality and relevance of in BW’s investment programme were reviewed and given the thumbs up by the EIB’s teams of engineers and economists in a highly demanding auditing process.
in BW is one of the very first provincial-level, multi-disciplinary intermunicipal associations to receive a direct EIB loan in Belgium.
The partnership concerns in BW’s 2018-2022 investment programme. It forms part of:
- For the water management component, a drive to improve supply (conserving and securing) and resource use (reducing losses, increasing energy efficiency,…);
- For the waste management component, the Walloon waste plan (upgrading of waste collection, processing and recycling tools: renovation of existing facilities, commissioning of additional energy recovery facilities,…);
- For the urban development component, an action plan aimed at hosting businesses by rehabilitating former industrial sites or public service facilities, converting brownfield sites and regenerating urban centres in accordance with sustainable development principles (improving energy performance, promoting the use of renewable energies,…).
The decision of the EIB’s Board of Directors was particularly justified by the facts that the partnership:
- Will contribute to the EIB’s climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and circular economy objectives;
- Will help to improve the quality of life of the people of Walloon Brabant and the businesses established there;
- Is in line with the environmental protection policies set out in particular in the Water Framework Directive (2000), the Solid Waste Framework Directive (2008), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010), the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012) and the Directive on reducing biodegradable waste and on circular economy measures (1999);
- Will have a positive environmental impact by helping to improve the quality of the drinking water service and protecting water resources, in line with the Directive on water intended for human consumption (1998), and by reducing greenhouse gases through energy efficiency measure, and recycling and upcycling waste;
- In the urban and economic development component, it will give small and medium-sized businesses opportunities to set up, foster the creation and safeguarding of jobs, and promote balanced and sustainable urban development enabling the achievement of objectives such as urban regeneration, social inclusion and greater urban resilience to economic shocks;
- Is in line with the EIB’s lending policies in all the sectors concerned and meets a number of priorities of the EU Urban Agenda (Amsterdam Pact of 30 May 2016), including promoting jobs and skills in the local economy and the sustainable use of land;
Specifically, the following projects have been adopted under this financial partnership.
In the drinking water sector:
- construction of new reservoirs to increase storage capacity (Corbais, Sauvagemont, Genval and Sart-Dames-Avelines);
- replacement of obsolescent delivery mains to channel water from catchment areas to treatment plants (at Genval, Marache – Aywiers, Tangissart – Sart-Messire- Guillaume and at Ry d’Hez);
- improvement of security by doubling of some delivery mains (Chechienne – Wavre and Sart-Dames-Avelines);
- prospecting for new resources to cater for major spikes in consumption at certain times of year (Chechienne – Wavre, Justice – Court-Saint-Etienne), secure production capacity (Rixensart – Limal) and diversify water draught points to address the effects of climate change;
- complete renovation of treatment plants of Sart-Dames-Avelines and Aywiers;
- annual replacement of a minimum of 1.2% of the total length of the network (1,700 km), i.e. 20.5 km, in order to keep output above 90% ;
- annual replacement of a twelfth of meters;
- Smart metering: installation of 83,000 meters to detect leaks at customers’ homes in real time, provide customers with information on their daily water consumption, pinpoint water leaks in the network by comparing each day the consumption of the head meter with the amount of consumption of customers’ meters, automatically recovering billing indicators and avoiding house visits. An initial pilot phase will be carried out in which reading devices will be “loaded” on garbage trucks; this is a clearly less costly solution that deserves to be tested.
In the recycling sector:
- Extension of the capacity of “recyparc” recycling centres (enlargement of 10 sites and relocation of 5 sites);
- Renewal of composting equipment (hybrid sieve, windrow turner, front loaders);
- Revamping of Virginal energy recovery unit (replacement of constituent parts of the plant: boilers, turbines, gas treatment);
- Biomethanisation of fermentable portion of household waste with optimisation through synergies with energy recovery unit and composting platform.
In the SME hosting sector:
- Renovation of old PSA building, workshop and car wash in Nivelles South;
- Renovation of Centre Monnet in Louvain-la-Neuve;
- Renovation of former brewery of Mont-Saint-Guibert;
- Renovation of various incubator centres in Walloon Brabant.
In the urban development sector:
- Construction of workshops in Rebecq, Tubize and Ittre;
- Construction of swimming pool and sports hall in Jodoigne;
- Construction of CPAS building in Chastre;
- Renovation of Jean Vilar theatre in Louvain-la-Neuve;
- Renovation of Valette theatre in Ittre;
- Renovation of in BW’s headquarters and “della Faille” house (enlargement of headquarters) in Nivelles;
- Renovation and enlargement of Champ de Court crematorium in Court-Saint-Etienne.
For in BW and its Board of Directors: “The favourable decision of the EIB’s Board of Directors is important news in a number of positive ways for in BW. The EIB loan will enable in BW to reduce and smooth out its cost of borrowing for investment over a longer period approaching the economic life of the assets concerned.
This represents both a success and a great source of pride for in BW: managing to win the confidence of the EIB and get it to support us in our numerous projects for the benefit of the Province and all the municipalities, businesses and people of Walloon Brabant”.
For the European Investment Bank (EIB), represented by Pierre Emmanuel Noël: “We are pleased to support in BW and enable it to continue its investment in sectors that are essential to the quality of life of the people of Walloon Brabant. The EIB’s decision is based on an in-depth appraisal that enabled it to examine all in BW’s projects and establish in BW’s commitment to taking on the challenges of the future. The will to anticipate the effects of climate change and use the best technologies, and the innovative vision of our interlocutors, were decisive in forming our partnership.
We are convinced that by being at the side of actors on the ground to help them bring their projects to fruition, we can, as the bank of the European Union, have a direct and rapid impact on our environment and on people’s daily lives. That is what Europe is: practical engagement in the heart of the regions, at the service of the citizens and local development.”
