Brussels, 05/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - In line with the priorities of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €17.5 million to St Petersburg's water company, Vodokanal, to finance reduction of the pollution discharged into the Gulf of Finland.
The project, to be jointly financed by Nordik Investment Bank, the EBRD, the EIB, the town of St Petersburg and the Russian Federation, includes: - completion of the northern tunnel collector, the main tunnel sewer on the right bank of River Neva collecting wastewater for the northern wastewater treatment plant including a pumping station and the closure of sewers discharging untreated sewage directly into the River Neva; - and the enhancement of nutrient removal at large central and northern wastewater treatment plants. In Russia and the Eastern Partnership countries, the EIB finances projects on the basis of an EU Council mandate of €3.7 billion for the period 2007-2013, which is provided for projects of significant interest to the EU in transport, energy, telecommunications and environmental infrastructure. (O.L./transl.jl)