Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr I. Khalilova / The Azerbaijani Government and the World Bank (WB) have completed negotiations about the project on improvement of water supply and sewerage system in Azerbaijani towns. The protocol of the negotiations is supposed to be undersigned by the Prime-Minister Arthur Rasizadeh in near future. The negotiations began on 18 April in Baku.
The total budget of the project and its components were estimated. According to the estimations, the budget of the project comprises $310mln, with $230mln of them to be allocated by the WB and the remaining funds to be allotted by the Azerbaijani government.
Investment and reconstruction of the water supply and sewerage system infrastructure are provided within the framework of the first component. The work will be carried out first of all in 10 Azerbaijani regions (Agstafa, Bilasuvar, Geranboy, Gabala, Guba, Saatli, Oghuz, Khanlar, Tovuz, Zagatala, Hajigabul, Gazakh, Gakh, Mingachevir, Sabirabad, Samukh, Shamkir, Ter-Ter as well as Sharur and Babak (the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic). The project covers 20 regions of the country.
The second component provides for technical aid for the developing of a General Plan on Development of Baku City and Absheron Peninsula Water Supply. The third component includes upgrade of Azersu joint stock company. International standards of financial accounting will be introduced and the billing system will be improved.
The implementation of the project will be completed by 2012.
The WB is represented by a mission headed by the director of the projecting group, Andreas Rode.