Moldova needs a sum €30 million for completing the construction of the Soroca–Balti aqueduct and putting it into operation. The building works were suspended in the 1980s, Minister of the Environment Gheorghe Salaru said in a news conference, quoted by IPN.

According to the minister, they are considering the possibility of taking out a loan of €20 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Investment (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The authorities also hope to obtain a grant of €10 million from the European Neighborhood Instrument.

Gheorghe Salaru had discussions on the issue with the EBRD Director of Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure Jean Patrick Marquet in Bucharest.

In a news conference in Chisinau, the minister said the municipality of Balti and six districts - Soroca, Drochia, Floresti, Rascani, Sangerei, and Telenesti – are to be connected to the Soroca–Balti aqueduct.

Based on a memorandum signed at the end of 2011, the EBRD provided a grant of €500,000 for the general analysis of the project and is to allocate another €700,000 for preparing the tender documents.