The World Bank lends Bulgaria 88.2 million euro for network upgrades and energy efficiency measures, for the construction of tap water filtration stations and eight dams, Regional Development and Public Works Deputy Minister Dimcho Mihalevski said on a conference on infrastructure projects on March 11, Dnevnik daily reported.
The Cabinet would complement the loan with 21.4 million euro in budget financing, while water and sewerage operators will add another 10.5 million Euros. The upgrades are planed to be completed in 2011.
The loan has a maturity of 17 years and a grace eriod of five years .
Sandanski, Harmanli and Belogradchik will be equipped with tap water filtration stations during 2008, while within a year such facilities will be set up in the towns of Sliven, Doupnitsa, Lyubimets and Svilengrad.
A new water supply system will be built from the Kamchia river to the towns of Biala and Obzor, another one some 20km north of Nessebur resort on the Black Sea Coast, will be built by May. By the summer of 2008, winter resorts Bansko and Dobrinishte will have new reservoirs.