The European Investment Bank (EIB), bank of the European Union, will invest €80 million to improve water distribution system in the Municipality of Tirana, enabling continuous availability of drinking water for over 800,000 people and reduction of water losses. Provided under Team Europe’s support, this investment will modernize water management efficiency, improve water supply security and contribute to better health and environmental conditions in the capital, which is to increase resilience to climate changes and promote economic growth. 

The project will modernise the existing distribution network and provide continuous, reliable, long-term water supply service in the city, with the Guri I Bardhe transmission line and the Tirana high-pressure water supply ring. It will also improve quality of the drinking water by eliminating the system of small personal reservoirs built on the roofs, which have high risk of water contamination. The investment comes under the EIB’s Economic Resilience Initiative, aiming to mobilise finance to support growth, job creation, vital infrastructure projects and social cohesion in the EU’s neighbouring regions.   

“Today, we are making an important step towards better living conditions for people of Tirana. We are glad to invest in safer and healthier future of Albania, at the same time contributing to faster recovery from devastating earthquake from 2019 and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud of existing partnership with the Government of Albania and the City of Tirana, which allowed us to address challenges arising from fast-growing urbanisation and insufficient water distribution system. This project will enable security of water supply for all and bring the country closer to its environmental, urban development and climate action goals. Together with the Team Europe, we are ready to continue supporting faster social and economic development of Albania and look forward to developing new projects for the country,” said EIB Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova, responsible for the Western Balkans.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of EU Delegation to Albania considered this new investment project as a major EU contribution to Albania’s efforts to improve the performance of its water services as well as to ensure continuous and safe water supply to Tirana’s inhabitants. 

"Europe is here to assist Albanians for an improved quality of life, stronger public health and reduced energy costs as Tirana becomes more resilient and adapts to climate change. We are happy to be able to help Albania align progressively with EU standards,” said Soreca.   

Even the Deputy Prime Minister, Arben Ahmetaj considered this as a larger agreement of €144.5 million that guarantees on the one hand the modernisatuon of water supply infrastructure and on the other hand, uninterrupted 24-hour water supply for almost 1 million inhabitants of the city of Tirana. 

"Over the last two years together with the EIB and the Municipality of Tirana we have undertaken a careful and detailed work to reach the finalisation of the project. I am happy that this project goes to one of the priority sectors of the Albanian Government, as part of a comprehensive reform and of our ambition to increase the quality of life of citizens, in this case by providing 24 hours of drinking water,” underlined Ahmetaj. 

The bank has already worked with the Municipality of Tirana on its first urban redevelopment project in Albania for Lana riverfront in 2019, that help reduce the pollution in the Lana River and reorganise streets and urban space near both banks.