EU funds EUR 3.5 mln water project in north Cyprus

The European Commission has signed a EUR3.5 mln contract with the consortium led by the German company Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG. to carry out design services for priority infrastructure projects in the water and wastewater sector in the northern part of Cyprus.

This contract is a critical component of a project to upgrade the quality and management of water supply and sanitation services in the northern part of Cyprus. At present, service levels to the Turkish Cypriot community in the water and wastewater sectors fall well short of what is required by EC legislation.

The project will last 12 months. The selected consortium will review existing concept and outline designs for waterworks, carry out additional studies, necessary topographical and geotechnical site investigations, conduct the required Environmental Impact Assessments and, following prioritization, prepare detailed designs.

The end goal of the this contract is to develop high quality tender documentation and ensure successful contracting of about  EUR60 mln for priority projects in order to improve the quality of the water supply, provision of wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in the northern part of Cyprus.

The project start-up meeting will be held on Thursday 3 April 2008 at 10:00 at Saray Hotel in Nicosia in the presence of European Commission officials, the company Fichtner and representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The project is funded under the EUR259 mln EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, managed by the European Commission.