Work is under way to ensure round-the-clock water supply in Lori and Shirak, Armenia, Aristakes Ghukasyan, Director of the Lori Water Company, told reporters. He pointed out that 35% of the Vanadzor population have round-the-clock water supply. He reported that 84% of the region’s water consumers have installed water meters. “The collection of payments is 75% in the region, high unemployment must be one of the causes,” Ghukasyan said.

According to him, the German KfW bank issued a loan for the renovation of the Vanadzor water supply network.

Andranik Khachatryan, Assistant to the KfW Bank’s Representative, said that the bank as issued a €23.5m loan to the Armenian Government for the renovation of water supply systems in Lori and Shirak, as well as in Gyumri and Vanadzor. He reported that the loan was issued for 40 years at an annual interest rate of 0.75%. “If the second stage of the program is approved, the water supply systems in the regions will be completely renovated, but the loan term will not be the same,” Khachatryan said. Referring to the German Government, he pointed out that Armenia is listed among middle-income developing countries, which is the reason why the next loan will be issued at a higher interest rate.