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World Bank allocates $260 million for Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Azerbaijan

08 September 2008 09:28 (UTC +04:00)

The agreement was signed between Samir Sharifov, Azerbaijanâ€™s Minister of Finance and Gregory Jedrzejczak, World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan.
Besides, contracts were signed with AzerSu (state owned water company) and its subsidiaries and the State Amelioration and Water Management Agency (SAWMA) for the implementation of the project components.
The project will improve the availability, quality, reliability and sustainability of water supply and sanitation (WSS) services in selected regional (rayon) centers in Azerbaijan. This will be achieved through the rehabilitation and reconstruction of WSS infrastructure in the 21 rayons outside the Greater Baku Area, including five in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Component A: Rayon Investments. This component will finance the rehabilitation and reconstruction of water, wastewater, and septic sludge treatment facilities in at least 21 rayons (Devechi, Dashkesen, Gedebey, Imishli, KurdÉ™mir, Siyezen, Aghsu, Ismayilli, Ucar, Zerdab, Lenkeran, Masalli, Astara, Calilabad, Yardimli, Lerik vÉ™ five rayons in NakhchÄ±van AR - Julfa, Ordubad, Sederek, Kangerli, Shahbuz) under the responsibility of the State Amelioration and Water Management Agency (SAWMA). The project will cover the rayon centers and the villages nearby, as well as villages along the mains supplying them.
Component B: Institutional Modernization. This component will support implementation of capacity building and modernization of AzerSu and its subsidiaries and SAWMA, to improve the efficiency and sustainability of WSS services.
Component C: Project Implementation and Management. This component will support project implementation by financing project management activities, including incremental operating costs and project audits.
The Government of Azerbaijan will provide $150 million for the implementation of $410 million project.
For the First National Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Azerbaijan, the World Bank extended US$230 million and the Government of Azerbaijan provided $80 million to improve the quality of water supply and sanitation services in 22 regional centers (Aghstafa, Bilesuvar, Khanlar, Goranboy, Guba, Oghuz, Gebele, Saatli, Tovuz, Shamakhi vÉ™ Zagatala, Absheron, Hajigabul, Gazakh, Gakh, Samukh, Sabirabad, Shemkir, Terter, Mingechevir, Khirdalan and two areas in Nakhchivan AR - Babek and Sherur) across the country.
In total, the projects in 43 regional areas of Azerbaijan will cost US$720 million.
Azerbaijan joined the World Bank in 1992. Since then, commitments to the country total approximately $2.133 billion for 41 operations.