Azerbaijan, Baku, 25 July / corr. Trend U.Ismayilova / The project on rehabilitation and expansion of Hovsan water treatment station, aimed at reducing water escape of untreated sewage into the Caspian Sea, will require from $800mln to $1bln, Peter Thomson, the head of the World Bank (WB) Department on stable development of the countries of Europe and Central Asia, stated in Baku on 25 July. This work is scheduled within the framework of the second phase of the program on new ecological development in Azerbaijan. The WB issued a $152mln loan at the first phase.
"The time will show which part of this sum the WB will issue," Thomson said.
According to Thomson, at present the WB is developing a feasibility study of the project and an exact cost of the project will be publicized following its full development.
Actions to clean sewage in Hovsan are realized through the French Bank's loan. At present aeration station is being re-equipped with the French technology and sewage will be treated with this technology prior to being thrown to sea. However, extra financing is required to construct a longer pipe to throw off sewage to the depth of the sea and the WB decided to grant this extra money.
Under the international ecological standards, water is capable of better self-treatment in the sea bottom, whilst this practically happens on the shore of the sea. An additional pipeline can be constructed in the sea at a distance of from 5 to 9km of the shore.
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