EIB Global, the European Investment Bank’s arm for activities outside the European Union, has announced a €1 million technical assistance grant to assist Tirana municipality in improving its water distribution network and ensuring a stable and continuous water supply. The grant will enable the successful rollout of a project aiming to improve the water distribution system in the Municipality of Tirana, while strengthening the implementation capacities of the Tirana water company (UKT). Once completed, the investment will help improve access to water supply for over 800,000 people, reduce water losses, and modernise the city’s water management system.
EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris, responsible for the Western Balkans, said that with almost 30% of the entire Albanian population living in Tirana, EIB Global has recognised the need to support the city’s sustainable development amid growing population, infrastructural, and climate challenges. This grant will serve as an important tool for getting the project off the ground more efficiently, resulting in modern, continuous, and reliable water services and supply in Tirana.
The grant agreement was signed at a ceremony held in Tirana in the presence of Deputy Mayor of Tirana Anuela Ristani and EIB Global Loan Officer for Albania Konstantinos Mastrogiannopoulos. The mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj welcomed the new collaboration with the European Investment Bank, which he believes will be just as fruitful for the people of Tirana as their previous projects.
EIB Global, as the EU bank, has provided over €6 million in technical assistance grants to Albania since 2021. With these funds, the Bank is also supporting the Municipality of Tirana in the urban redevelopment of the Lana riverfront, developing an investment program in the area close to the border with Montenegro along Lake Shkodër and the Buna River at the main gateway to the Albanian Alps, and supporting the Albanian railway sector by providing a technical assistance grant to prepare the preliminary design of a section of Rail Corridor VIII.