Morocco: EU supports National Programme for Liquid Sanitation

BRUSSELS, 09 May. - (ANA) - The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) of Morocco signed two financing agreements for the funding of the second phase of the National Liquid Sanitation Programme: a loan of more than EUR 34 million with the European Investment Bank (EIB), and a grant Of EUR 8 million with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Morocco, with funds from an EU grant to be managed by the AFD.

These two new financial agreements complement two loan agreements totaling EUR 54 million, previously signed. This makes the total amount of EU funding for the 2nd phase of the National Sanitation Program (NAP) reach EUR 96 million.

These contributions from European donors will contribute to the objectives of preserving the environment, adapting to climate change and improving the quality of life and hygiene of the Moroccan population targeted by the National Sanitation Programme. The programme is expected to reach an 80% rate of connection to the sewage system in urban areas in 2020 and 60% of wastewater treatment.

These funds are mainly intended for the production of wastewater treatment plants and liquid sanitation networks, as well as the establishment of technical assistance which will contribute to the sustainability of these investments and their proper appropriation by the beneficiary populations, approximately 30 municipalities with nearly 400,000 inhabitants.

This contribution of more than one billion dirhams constitutes the 2nd installment of the European co-financing of the Office's component in the National Programme for Liquid Sanitation, having already received a loan of approximately 955 million dirhams for the first installment, totaling a global funding of nearly EUR 184 million from European donors for the ONEE for the National Sanitation Programme.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 09 May 2017 - - -