Republic of Lebanon

Wastewater Facilities in the North and Central Litani Basin
Loan No: 653 Interest Rate: 2.5 %
Beneficiary: Bekaa Water Authority Grace Period: 6 years
Project Cost: KD 34.3 million Maturity: 30 years
Amount of Loan: KD 27.0 million Repayment: 49 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2018-02-19 First Installment: 6 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2018-02-19 Date of Loan Effectiveness: -

Objectives:

The project aims at improving the environmental and health conditions in the areas within the north Litani Basin (north Bekaa) and central Litani Basin (east Zahleh(, protecting the ground and surface water sources, and reducing pollution of the Litani river and its tributaries, through construction of several wastewater projects.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, consists of the construction of main and subsidiary wastewater collection networks, pumping stations, wastewater treatment plants, and disposal facilities to discharge the treated wastewater. The project also includes the necessary consultancy services to complete the studies, prepare the designs and bid documents, and supervise the project works, as well as the provision of institutional support to the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Bekaa Water Authority. The project comprises the following main components:

  1. Wastewater Facilities:
    1. Wastewater Facilities in the North Litani Basin (North Bekaa):This includes the construction of the main and subsidiary wastewater networks, house connections and necessary pumping stations for the wastewater system in the Tamnin area in north Bekaa, which consists of about 36 towns and villages, comprising Britel, El-Khodr, Hortaala, Taraya, Haoch Er-Rafqa, Qsarnaba, Al Hallaniya and neighboring villages. The networks include pipelines with diameters ranging between 150 and 600 mm, and a total length of about 390 km. The works include raising the capacity of the Tamnin treatment plant from 15 thousand m3/day to 38 thousand m3/day, with all the necessary accessories. The works also include the construction of wastewater facilities for two small systems, the first one for the towns of Maaraboun and Ham with a network length of about 20 km and a treatment plant with a capacity of about 540 m3/day, and the second one for the towns of Jenta and Yahfoufa with a network length of about 13 km and a treatment plant with a capacity of about 255 m3/day.
    2. Wastewater Facilities in the Central Litani Basin (East Zahleh): The construction of the main and subsidiary wastewater networks, house connections and necessary pumping stations for the wastewater system in east Zahleh, which consists of about 17 towns and villages, comprising Rayak, Ali En Nahri, Kfar Zabad, Ain Kfar Zabad, El Faaour, Terbol, Raait and neighboring villages. The networks include pipelines with diameters ranging between 150 and 1200 mm, and a total length of about 94 km. The works include the construction of a treatment plant with a capacity of about 29 thousand m3/day, with all the necessary accessories.
  2. Consultancy Services and Institutional Support:This includes the completion and preparation of the necessary studies, design, bid documents and supervision of work construction, in addition to the provision of institutional support to both the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Bekaa Water Authority, which includes the development of capabilities, the acquisition of the necessary equipment for maintenance, operation and laboratories, and the use of experts.
  3. Land Acquisition:This includes the acquisition of land and the necessary compensations needed for the project construction.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 79% of the total project cost. The Lebanese Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.