With the launch of the €64.8 million Priority Investment Program, financed by the EBRD and EIB, the first 3 auctions were initiated out of the 6 planned in the first stage, IPN learned from a press release of Chisinau's water utility ACC.

The 3 auctions involve procurement of pumping and electrical equipment for the pumping stations in Chisinau; specialized machinery and equipment, including trucks and trailers, unclogging equipment, excavators, a tiller truck, and a fully equipped van for pipe inspection; and equipment to detect and repair leaks.

Twenty bids were submitted within these three auctions, with the bidders being from 11 countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine and Moldova.

The commission, composed of local and international experts, is now evaluating the bids. In parallel, ToRs are being prepared for the next auctions.

In the first stage, in addition to the above, the Program will also cover the rehabilitation of about 200 kilometers of piping, the reduction of pressure in the system to reduce leaks, and the rehabilitation of over 3,000 connections in residential blocks.

Starting in 2016, the second stage of the Program will cover the rehabilitation of the Chisinau wastewater treatment facilities. This includes installing new equipment that will remove the problem of stocking the silt resulting from the treatment. The silt could then be used to produce biogas and fertilizers.