A new EU-funded project worth €350,000 has been launched for the development of a feasibility study and detailed design for the refurbishment and extension of the wastewater and stormwater sewerage networks in the Municipality of Pljevlja in Montenegro.

The Pljevlja Wastewater Project has already received EU support through pre-accession IPA funding as well as a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan – the lending arm of the EU – for the design and construction of a wastewater treatment plant, which was completed in 2019. Further support has been provided through the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) grant for the construction of the main sewage collector. WBIF is an EU-led donor investment platform that pools grants with implementing partner financing to support EU enlargement and socio-economic development in the region.

The new project will enable investments in storm and wastewater separation, as well as extension of the foul sewer system to proceed, thus allowing for the completion of the entire wastewater system. The investments should come through an EU grant and EIB loan.

Oana Cristina Popa, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro said, “The management and treatment of wastewater is a priority sector for EU support and we wish to see more national and international stakeholders supporting the development of these services in the entire territory of the country.”