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World Bank mission for sanitation and water supply arrives in Baku

10 October 2007 12:35 (UTC +04:00)

On October 9, the World Bank mission for National Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Azerbaijan has arrived in Baku.
The mission will examine the situation on the project. The mission will have meeting in Azerbaijan by October 14.
The World Bank and the Government of Azerbaijan Republic signed a Loan Agreement for the $230 million National Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Azerbaijan.
The project aims to improve the quality of water supply and sanitation services in at least twenty regional centers (rayons) across the country, including Aghstafa, BilÉ™suvar, Goranboy, Gabala, Guba, Saatli, Oghuz, Shamkir, Khanlar, Tovuz, Zaqatala, HajÄ±gabul, MingÉ™chevir, Gax, Samukh, Terter, Gazakh, Babak vÉ™ Sherur. It is slated to add a further five towns to the list.
The quality of water and sanitation infrastructure and services in many secondary and small towns in Azerbaijan has deteriorated severely over the years as a result of age, limited capital investment, and poor maintenance of facilities. These conditions pose a threat to public health and increase the risk of environmental degradation.
The project builds upon the recently completed Greater Baku Water Supply Project (GBWSP) and continues the World Bankâ€™s long-term support to the improvement of Azerbaijanâ€™s water and sanitation sector. It focuses on the rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation facilities in and around urban centers of the country, and supports key reforms to modernize sector institutions in order to improve their capacity, institutional and operational effectiveness, and commercial and financial viability.
The project has three components:
The Rayon Investment component finances the rehabilitation and extension of water supply and sewerage systems along with wastewater and septic sludge treatment facilities in at least twenty rayons.
The Regional Development Plan for Greater Baku component finances the formulation of a Regional Development Plan for Greater Baku, which will provide the framework for future infrastructure investments (including water and sewerage investments) across the Absheron Peninsula.
The Institutional Modernization component supports the development and implementation of key reforms needed for the modernization of Azersu and its subsidiary companies, as well as to the State Amelioration and Water Management Agency in Nakhchivan, in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of Water Supply and Sanitation services.
By the time the project is completed, at least 700,000 people in the rayons are expected to have improved access to safe and reliable piped water supply, and to wastewater collection and disposal services. /APA-Economics/