EBRD finances water infrastructure in Azerbaijan’s second-largest city

European fundings will be directed to upgrading of Ganja’s water infrastructure to improve its residents’ living standards by ensuring better access to clean water while building resilience towards the impact of climate change.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) committed €35 million to finance the upgrading of Ganja’s water management systems. Sovereign loan to be combined with a grant of up to €5 million from the European Union EU.

More than 300,000 people living in Azerbaijan’s second-largest city stand to benefit from further improvements to their urban environment thanks to a third Green Cities project agreed by the delegations of the EBRD and Azerbaijan at the 2025 World Economic Forum.

According to EBRD press-release, this loan is a follow-up to the memorandum of understanding that the parties signed at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) and the start of a comprehensive programme which aims to ensure that all of Ganja is covered by efficient and sustainable water and wastewater services.

The project includes the construction of a water supply pipeline, wastewater collection pipes and water reservoirs, as well as stormwater management systems and other supporting infrastructure.

Ganja joined the EBRD’s flagship Green Cities programme in 2020, and this is now the EBRD’s third investment project there. The EBRD’s first investment in Ganja was in 2022, when the Bank committed to financing upgrades to the city’s waste management, and that was then followed by the financing of improvements to the city’s street-lighting infrastructure.

Read next

18:45

Middle East

Azerbaijan's Embassy in Syria reopens in Damascus

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Syria has restarted its operations after 13-year break.

14:54

South Caucasus

Azerbaijan takes Armenia to court over habitat damage

Azerbaijan has filed a case against Armenia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, accusing it of severe environmental damage during its occupation of Azerbaijani territories—a move marking the first inter-state arbitration under the Bern Convention.

16:13

Vardanyan's Trial

Ukrainian lawmakers criticise Vardanyan during trial

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan is drawing international attention, as he faces serious charges of war crimes and terrorism, while Ukrainian lawmakers intensify their criticism over his alleged ties to the Kremlin.

13:58

Azerbaijan

President Ilham Aliyev discusses Azerbaijan’s global strategy in Davos interview

On January 20, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sat down for an exclusive interview with China’s CGTN (China Global Television Network) during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

01:55

World Business

World Business with Guy Shone - The Energy Sector

The multi-trillion-dollar energy sector has never been more subject to scrutiny, as our demand for electricity keeps growing. AnewZ’s Editor-in-Chief Guy Shone is joined by the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Dr. Fatih Birol, from Paris.