World Bank, over 110 million euros in support for Romania to countering nutrient pollution

The World Bank has supported Romania in its efforts to combat nutrient pollution for the past two decades, with over 110 million euros invested in local communities and with assistance given to the Government to strengthen administrative capacity, Anna Akhalkatsi, country manager for Romania, said on Tuesday within the World Bank, according to a press release from the Ministry of the Environment.She participated, together with the minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, at the final conference of the "Integrated Control of Nutrient Pollution" (CIPN) project. The project is part of the Romanian Government's efforts to ensure the implementation of the Nitrates Directive, which aims to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural sources.The CIPN project was financed by the Government of Romania, with a loan from the World Bank, and took place in two financing phases. The first phase started in 2008 and ended in 2017, financing a number of 86 manure management platforms. The additional financing of the project was allocated until December 2023.For her part, Adriana Petcu, secretary of state for Water within the MMAP, emphasized that the project had ambitious interventions, allocating about 70% of the funds for construction works and the equipment necessary for the management of manure at the local level.The conference was also attended by Cosmin Buteica, Environment specialist, World Bank, Jeanne De Jagher, Team Leader Nitrates, European Commission, specialists from the mini8stry, but also representatives of local public authorities from the beneficiary localities of the investments financed by project. The debates brought to the attention of those present, the lessons learned, the positive experiences, but also technical and operational aspects that will be able to be integrated into the implementation schemes of the future financing programs available.The map of communal manure collection platforms, built through the "Integrated Control of Nutrient Pollution" project, is available on the project website www.apanoastra.ro, Platforms section.