Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank (WB) has approved Additional Financing for the Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Project (NWSSP 2) in Azerbaijan.

The additional financing worth $150 million will be spent to improve the quality and reliability of the water supply and to expand water supply and sanitation services in selected regional centers in Azerbaijan, WB said.

The share of the Azerbaijani government in this project will amount to $83 million. The duration of the project will be extended until December 31, 2017 within additional funding.

WB Director for South Caucasus Henry Kerali said this Additional Financing will complement the comprehensive Water Program implemented by the Azerbaijani government to improve water supply services in regions of Azerbaijan.

"The project primarily targets the population of secondary towns and suburban villages, which are mostly rural and more vulnerable. The provision of basic public infrastructure services, such as reliable piped water supply and sanitation, would have a significant impact on the livelihoods of the rural population, and contribute to WB Group's twin goals to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity," he added.

The Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Project has been under implementation since 2008, and has already helped improve the water supply and sanitation networks in three regional centers, with reliable piped water supply and sanitation services provided to more than 120,000 beneficiaries.

WB Senior Infrastructure Specialist and project team leader Hadji Huseynov believes the additional loan will finance the scale-up of activities and expansion of coverage in Siyazan, Shabran, Aghsu, Ismayilli, Lerik, Yardimli, Masalli, and Jalilabad regions.

"When the project is completed in three years, 300,000 Azerbaijanis will have access to world class water and sanitation services," he said.

Last week, the WB Board of Directors approved a loan in the amount of $100 million and $50 million, which are allocated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), for the implementation of the Judicial Services and Smart Infrastructure Project (JSSIP), and Azerbaijan Rural Investment (AzRIP) projects, respectively.

WB's current investment portfolio in Azerbaijan includes 17 projects. Since joining the WB in 1992, commitments to the country have totaled over $3 billion for 54 projects.