Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 31 / Trend , I.Khalilova /
The German KfW Development Bank has started to assess a project to restore water and sewerage systems in Ganja and Sheki to provide additional funding, the KfW Baku office told Trend on Monday.
"The bank's mission led by project manager Ursula Hister arrived in Baku on Oct.30 to this end," the office said.
The mission will stay in the country until Nov.7.
The bank is ready to provide additional 83 million euros to continue activities for the full restoration of the water and sewerage systems in these two cities.
Twenty-three million euros were approved by the German government in 2009, 40 million euros in 2010 and 20 million euros in 2011
The first phase of the project envisages improving the quality and reliability of water supply and sewerage system in Ganja and Sheki with a budget of 55 million euros.
KfW provided loan worth 37 million euros, and Seco allocated 10 million euros in the form of a grant.
The Azerbaijani government's share is 8 million euros.
The first phase includes measures to provide water to Sheki (hitting100 percent) and also to Ganja (reaching 50 percent). The further development of the system of Ganja is envisaged in the second phase.
KfW Baku office official Natig Abdullayev earlier told Trend that, in order to finance the second phase, the bank will allocate 23 million euros. This is the expected figure after a September project evaulation, he said.
"The main purpose of the German bank is to connect consumers to the water network at 100 percent, said Abdullayev. - However, due to delays in the definition of a contractor to start construction work in Sheki, the completion of the project delays by 2014."
He said the construction work has already begun in Ganja, which is conducted by the Turkish Hasalsan Company, and to identify a contractor for Sheki, the tender will be announced in September.
Consulting services and a partial restoration of infrastructure in Sheki, in particular the purchase of equipment, are planned to be implemented owing to Seco's funds.