The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering financing the expansion of the Al-Shallala water station in Irbid with $54 million.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering providing a sovereign loan of up to $54 million to the Water Authority to finance the rehabilitation, improvement and expansion of the Al-Shallala wastewater treatment plant in Irbid.
According to a project document published by the bank, the total cost of the project is approximately $67.4 million, with expectations of co-financing through an investment grant from other donor partners.
She explained that the current Al-Shallala station is under great pressure as a result of rapid population growth, increased quantities of sewage, and outdated infrastructure, which has led to a decline in treatment efficiency and an inability to consistently comply with Jordanian standards for water discharge and reuse, especially during peak periods.
According to the document, the project aims to rehabilitate and expand the station to raise its capacity to an average treatment of about 30,500 cubic meters per day, meeting the expected flows of wastewater until 2050, while restoring compliance with national standards and improving treatment reliability and adaptability to climate change.
The study indicated that the project will enable the safe reuse of treated water for irrigation, contributing to environmental protection and supporting Jordan’s long-term water security goals, in addition to reducing pollution levels and improving treatment performance during periods of high flow in a region suffering from high water scarcity.
The document also indicated that the project will contribute to enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating the effects of climate change, enabling the capture and use of biogas and reducing net greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the bank, the project falls within the municipal infrastructure sector and is classified under environmental category “B”, while the rehabilitation and expansion works will be carried out within the boundaries of the existing station without the need to acquire additional land.
The document added that the project would increase the station’s overall capacity by about 80 equivalent people, to about 240 equivalent people, with expectations that the environmental and social impacts would be “localized, temporary and mitigateable.”
The study added that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide technical support before and after the signing of the agreement, including technical, environmental and social studies, monitoring of tenders and implementation, in addition to supporting the Yarmouk Water Company in monitoring the performance of the water infrastructure using key performance indicators.