Azerbaijan, Baku, March 8 / Trend A.Akhundov /
The World Bank (WB) is expecting an official response from the government of Azerbaijan to complete restructuring of the second national project to improve the country's water supply and sewerage system, the bank's Baku office told Trend.
During the first phase of restructuring, the number of districts covered by the project was reduced from 20 to eight. As a result, the project provided for the full restoration of water supply and sewerage systems in the Siyazan, Shabran, Agsu, Ismayilli, Masalli, Lerik, Yardimli and Jalilabad regions.
The second phase of restructuring provides for the extension of the completion date from February 28, 2013 (as stated earlier) to December 31, 2014. The WB addressed the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan with the relevant request on October 31, 2012.
"The dates should be extended to complete the on-going work and for the full achievement of project's purposes," the bank said.
In addition, the parties discussed the possibility of additional funding from the World Bank for the project. The bank has received the relevant request from the government.
To date, nearly half of the allocated funds have been spent. Construction is underway in all project areas and most of the civil works will be completed by the end of 2013.
The World Bank has allocated $230 million for the implementation of the project through the IBRD and $30 million through the IDA with a total cost of $410 million. The government's share in the project amounts to $150 million.
Azerbaijan has been a member of the World Bank since 1992.