On November 8-9, representatives of the European Union (EU) will visit Armenia to start the implementation of a project on the rehabilitation of the Yerevan metro. Besides, an agreement on a water supply and rehabilitation project with municipalities in Armenia will be discussed during the visit, the press service of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia reported.

The purpose of the metro rehabilitation project is to finance priority capital investments to renovate the Yerevan metro system. The project will focus on the most immediate safety upgrade and renovation needs, including rolling stock upgrades, track improvements, power supply refurbishment, pump replacement and a maintenance trolley among others.

The first phase of Yerevan Metro Rehabilitation project was approved in March 2010, and is supported by a € 5 million EU grant through the EU Neighborhood Investment Facility (NIF), € 5 million loan by the European Investment Bank, as well as € 5 million loan and €1 million in technical cooperation grants by the EBRD. Phase II, which will address other problems including water ingress to the tunnel, has an indicative value of € 15 million.

Apart from the metro rehabilitation, the EU is now finalizing an agreement on a water supply project involving different Armenian municipalities through the NIF. The planned "Armenian Small Municipalities Water Project" with a value of € 20.8 million will improve municipal water supply in selected municipalities (Tavush, Lori, Shirak, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Syunik municipalities and Vayots Dzor province) and rehabilitate water treatment plants and sewerage collectors in Dilijan and Jermuk. During their visit, the representatives will also discuss possibilities for future projects in other sectors.