(ANSA) - BRUXELLES - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) Cohesion Fund are expanding their efforts to upgrade water and wastewater services in Romania.

The EBRD is extending a long-term 5.7 million euros loan, while the EU is contributing a grant of 57.1 million euros from Romania's EU Cohesion Fund Programme, to the investment plan by SC Secom SA Drobeta-Turnu Severin, a regional company supplying water and wastewater services to a population of some 300,000 in Mehedinti county, on the border with Serbia and Bulgaria. In addition, the state is providing 8.7 million euros and the remaining 1.4 million euros will be covered by the local budget.

SC Secom SA plans to expand and modernise its water and wastewater network in the 10 towns Drobeta Turnu Severin, Baia de Arama, Strehaia, Vanju-Mare, Simian, Cujmir, Braniste, Gura Vaii, Comanda and Rogova. The EBRD's funds will be used for improvements to four wastewater treatment plants, 13 new water-pumping stations, 10 new reservoirs and 27 wastewater pumping stations, in addition to over two hundred kilometres of water and wastewater networks that will be rehabilitated and extended. According to the project, more than 15,000 people will be connected to the water network and almost 30,000 to the wastewater network. The improvements will also reduce water and energy losses, cutting 415 tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually. (ANSA).