OREANDA-NEWS. February 5, 2009. The World Bank has carried out a rotation of its team supervising first and second watersupply projects (Urban Water Supply & Sanitation Project) in Azerbaijan.

The Baku-based WB representative office says that following that its project staff changed and its new manager was appointed.

“His first visit to Azerbaijan is scheduled for late February or early March,” the WB office said.

Within Project II the country held a tender procedure for making a detailed feasibility study and tender documentation for 16 regions more.

Earlier it was made a similar feasibility report on 10 regions.

60% of the Project II budget will be directed for watersupply and the balance for water. WBG is to finance USD 190 million, including USD 160 million through International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and USD 30 million through International Development Association (IDA).  The Azerbaijani party will finance another USD 60 million.

Project II will cover 5 regions in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, 6 regions in the south of Azerbaijan and another 10 regions not covered by watersupply modernization project.

The credit agreement on Project I was signed on August 17. In period until 2012 WBG endorsed disbursal of a USD 230 million credit through the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development for the USD 310 million watersupply project in small cities of Azerbaijan. The project consists of three components: regional investment policy (20 regions), regional development plan for Greater Baku, upgrade of infrastructure and structural changes in project loan borrower Azersu (Azerbaijan State Water Company). Originally the project covered Agstafa, Bilasuvar, Geranboy, Gabala, Guba, Khanlar, Oguz, Saatli, Tovuz, Zagatala, Hajigabul, Gakh, Mingechevir, Samukh, Shamkir, Terter, Gazakh, Sabirabad and the Sharur and Babek regions of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Then Shemakha and Khirdalan became the project additional participants.