A London-based Bank is investing €10 million (£7.2m) in a wastewater project in South Kazakhstan.

Private water utility, TOO Vodnye Resoursy Marketing, will use the cash to improve water and wastewater systems in the city of Shymkent.

The government of Kazakhstan is also providing $8 million (£5.76m) for the project.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Sir Suma Chakrabarti said: “Aktobe and Shymkent are the first two cities in Kazakhstan where we will be working together with the government and the local authorities under the Enhanced Partnership to improve the quality of water and related services.”

The EBRD has invested around $7 billion (£4.41bn) in the country in the last 22 years, it stated.