Azerbaijan, Baku, 12 March / Trend corrI.Khalilova / The World Bank is prepared to hold official negotiations with the Azerbaijani State on the second project to improve the water and sewage systems in small cities of the country on 12 and 13 March, WB Baku Office reported. For this purpose a WB mission headed by Andreas Rode, head of water projects, will pay a visit to Azerbaijan.
Before, the negotiations were scheduled for 13 and 14 March.
The WB loan will be allocated in two parts, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - $230mln and the International Development Association - $30mln.
Azerbaijan's share in the project will be specified during negotiations.
The project will cover 21 regions, five in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) of Azerbaijan and others in Kurdamir, Ujar, Zardab and other regions.
The first water project covered 22 regions and the WB allocated $230mln with a total cost of $310mln.
According to assessments by WB experts, the quality of water and sewage systems in most small cities of Azerbaijan are not up to standard due to a shortfall in investment. The state of these systems negatively affects public health. Implementation of the first project will provide about 700,000 people with water and sewage systems. The project is expected to complete by 2012.
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