The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) has agreed to finance a $48m wastewater conveyance project between Ain-Ghazal Treatment Plant to the As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant (As-Samra WWTP).

It is also considering further finance to the Water Authority of Jordan for a $27m upgrade of the Ain Ghazal Treatment Plant.

The EBRD would lend $25m and $17m to each project respectively. For the pipeline project, the remaining $23m will be donated by the World Bank or the EBRD.

The 30.4km wastewater conveyor will transfer mechanically treated water from Ain Ghazal to As-Samra for further, biological treatment.

EBRD is also financing a $21m force main from East Zarqa pumping station to As-Samra. It will lend $14.5m and offer a $5.5m grant.

EBRD is appointing consultants to advise it on contracting the third phase of As-Samra WWTP on a build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis.

It carried out feasibility studies to expand the wastewater plant by 100,000 to 145,000 cubic metres a day, from the current 365,000 cm/d, and is expected to finance the project to some extent.

A consortium led by France’s Degremont carried out the first two phases of the As-Samra WWTP as a BOT.

The lending programme is intended to help Jordan cope with the unprecedented strain the Syrian refugee crisis has placed on its water resources, including As-Samra WWTP, the largest in the country.

The French Development Agency (AFD) is also financing studies for a new wastewater plant in North East Balqa Governorate, to be carried out on a design, build basis.