Tajikistan secures €62 million in EBRD financing for road repairs and Kulob water supply

Tajikistan has signed €62. 085 million in loan and grant agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to rehabilitate a mountain road in Khatlon province and modernize water supply and sewerage systems in Kulob. The projects are expected to improve year-round road access for 19 communities and provide more than 100,000 residents with a reliable supply of clean drinking water, the Ministry of Finance reports. The agreements were signed on October 28 by Finance Minister Fayziddin Qahhorzoda and EBRD Vice President Matteo Patrone. According to the ministry, €52. 185 million is allocated for the reconstruction of the Baljuvon – Sari Khosor road, while €9. 9 million will go toward improving water supply and sewerage infrastructure in Kulob. The EBRD says it will provide sovereign loans of up to €55. 4 million for the two projects, supplemented by grants.

Road access for 19 communities The larger project involves rehabilitating the Baljuvon – Sari Khosor road in Khatlon province. According to the Ministry of Finance, the work will cover 54. 1 kilometers of road and include the construction of 10 bridges and installation of 121 culverts. The EBRD puts the length of the road section at approximately 56 kilometers. The bank will provide a sovereign loan of up to €49. 2 million and a grant of up to €4. 2 million for the project. The road currently becomes impassable during winter and spring because of seasonal flooding, restricting residents’ movement and disrupting trade, the EBRD says. Once the reconstruction is complete, 19 communities with a combined population of around 6,000 people are expected to have year-round road access. The project will also include riverbank reinforcement and nature-based engineering measures to reduce the risk of flood…