site.btaWater, Sewerage Infrastructure in Focus of New Environment Operational Programme

Water, Sewerage Infrastructure in Focus of New Environment Operational Programme

Sofia, November 24 (BTA) - Environment and Water Minister Ivelina Vassielva said Tuesday that the water and sewerage infrastructure will again be the main focus of the new Environment Operational Programme (OP). Vassileva said that 70 per cent of the OP's budget, or 2.3 billion leva, will go towards such projects. Vassileva spoke at the Fifth National Conference on the new Environment and Rural Development OPs and the transition to the new programming period.

Vassileva said also that 240 million leva from the Environment OP will be set aside, which will be doubled by Bulgarian Financial Instruments Manager Fund by means of attracting additional funding, and reinvested in the water and sewerage sector. She said that in respect of water and sewerage, the Financial Instruments Manager Fund is expected to work in earnest at the end of 2016.

Vassileva dwelled on the upcoming launch of big water supply and sewerage projects in four cities: Plovdiv, Assenovgrad, Dobrich and Pleven, which are worth a total of 402 million leva. The Minister expressed a hope that real construction work under these projects will start in 2016.

Vassileva said another five projects are pending, worth a total of 116 million leva.