Kigali, 20th February 2018: The European Investment Bank (EIB), a lending institution of the European Union has ratified a new €45 million loan to finance transformational improvement of sanitation infrastructure in the City of Kigali during a ceremony that took place at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Kigali.

The new 25-year loan was formally signed by Ambassador Claver Gatete, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning representing Government of the Republic of Rwanda and Maria Shaw-Barragan, Director of the EIB, responsible for lending operations outside Europe.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water, Hon. Germaine Kamayirese, Head of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, Ambassador Nicola Bellomo, Mayor of City of Kigali, Pascal Nyamulinda, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Deputy CEO of Water and Corporation Company (WASAC), among others.

Upon completion, thousands of people living in the Rwandan capital Kigali will benefit from the country’s first wastewater treatment plant and public sewerage network supported by the largest ever EIB loan in the country.

Speaking at the function, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Ambassador Claver Gatete said “Kigali is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa and investment in water and sanitation is crucial to improve health and reduce pollution. The Government of Rwanda welcomes the backing for the EIB and other international partners for the Kigali Centralized Sewerage project. The EIB has played a key role supporting the technical, economic and environmental studies essential for the successful design of this scheme.”

Maria Shaw-Barragan, Director of the EIB said that the plant will improve health, reduce pollution and carbon emissions, as well as make Kigali an even better place to live and work.

“Visionary new investment to transform wastewater here in Kigali will benefit Rwandans for the years ahead,” Shaw-Barragan said.

The EIB recognizes the crucial importance of this project for Rwanda’s capital and we are pleased to provide our largest ever loan in Rwanda to support the scheme. By ensuring that the project can cater for growing demand and a growing city, this scheme sets a benchmark that other world cities are already following closely.” she added.

Head of the European Union to Rwanda, Nicola Bellomo noted “The European Union recognises the importance of new investment in wastewater to achieve sustainable development goals”

He added that hard work by Rwandan and European colleagues over recent years has enabled the preparation and design of this truly life changing investment.

“The loan represents the largest ever engagement by the EIB, the Bank of the European Union, in Rwanda. This is a key project in the history of the city of Kigali that will benefit thousands of residents in the years ahead.” said Ambassador Nicola Bellomo.

The EIB’s support for wastewater investment in Kigali represents the largest ever financing by the EIB in Rwanda in 40 years of operations in the country and the first support for public sector investment since 2000. The EIB is the world’s largest international public bank and the largest lender for water investment worldwide.