Naryn Begins Wastewater Upgrade with EBRD, Swiss, and EU Support

Construction has begun on a new wastewater treatment plant in Naryn, the administrative center of Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region, under a project backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Switzerland, and the European Union. The financing package includes a €2 million sovereign loan from the EBRD, a €3.6 million grant from Switzerland, and a €1 million grant from the EU. The funds will be used to build a new wastewater treatment plant, extend the city’s sewerage network, construct two new pumping stations, and purchase operational equipment. According to the EBRD, Naryn, a city of around 42,000 people, currently has wastewater service coverage of only about 22%, with many households still relying on outdoor toilets or septic tanks. Once completed, the project is expected to improve public health, reduce environmental pollution, strengthen resilience to climate change, and lower operating costs. The number of residents benefiting from improved wastewater services is projected to double from around 10,000 to 20,000. Speaking at the launch ceremony on June 17, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Erlist Akunbekov said the project would help improve living standards in the city, protect the Naryn River, and support the region’s sustainable development. “This project will contribute to improving the quality of life for city residents, ensuring the environmental safety of the Naryn River, and promoting the sustainable development of Naryn,” Akunbekov said, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. The ministry said similar projects aimed at improving drinking water supply and wastewater treatment are currently under way in 25 cities and 600 villages across Kyrgyzstan. To date, the EBRD has invested more than €196 million in 32 water supply and wastewater treatment projects across 28 municipalities in Kyrgyzstan. That total includes €87 million in loans and €109 million in capital grants, including €33 million from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and €46 million from the EU.