A 100 million euro loan by the World Bank will be used to finance the construction of six dams and six pumping stations, BTA reports quoting Regional Development and Public Works Minister Asen Gagaouzov who spoke at the unveiling of upgraded pumping stations in Rousse on Wednesday.

The investments in the water supply and sewerage sector of the past three years are 40-fold more than before, Gagaouzov said, adding that over 2,000 million euro will be invested in the sector in the following years under EU programs.

"The integrated water project for Rousse is the first in Bulgaria using EU grant aid to enhance the energy efficiency of a water-supply company," the Minister also said. The implementation of this component of the large-scale integrated project will result in reducing the duration of water supply disruptions, enhancing the quality of the service and cutting water supply costs.

The delivery contract is of 1,119,928.42 euro worth and the German company WILO AG is the project contractor.

The integrated water project for Rousse is financed under the ISPA EU program. Under the financial memorandum the project is of 46,800,000 euro worth, of which 75 per cent are provided as grant within ISPA, 17 per cent are provided by a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and 8 per cent come from the national budget. The project should be completed by end-2010.