Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Water Supply to the Cities of Laayoune and Djiguenni, and Neighboring Villages
Loan No: 644 Interest Rate: 2.0 %
Beneficiary: Société Nationale de l’Eau (SNDE) Grace Period: 7 years
Project Cost: KD 16.7 million Maturity: 30 years
Amount of Loan: KD 15.0 million Repayment: 47 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2017-07-10 First Installment: 7 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2017-07-10 Date of Loan Effectiveness: -

Objectives:

The project aims at facing the current shortfall in the supply of drinking water to the cities of Laayoune and Djiguenni, and meeting their future water needs, as well as providing drinking water to about 14 neighboring villages, which will contribute to a reduction of the spread of diseases caused by consumption of contaminated water by the population, and an improvement of their living and health conditions. This will be achieved through the transport and distribution of water provided to the city of Timbedra through the “Water Supply to Eastern Cities and Villages from Dhar Basin Project”, which is about to be completed.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2021, includes the construction of a number of pumping stations and reservoirs, the laying of pipelines, and the installation of a number of public taps and house connections. The project also includes the provision of technical services required for the review of studies and the preparation of tender documents, the supervision of project implementation, and the provision of institutional support to SNDE. The project comprises the following components:

  1. Water Transport and Distribution Facilities:This includes the laying of pipelines to transport water, with a total length of about 260 km and diameters ranging between 150 and 400 mm, the construction of 3 ground and elevated reservoirs with capacities ranging between about 250 and 1500 m3, and the construction of 2 water pumping stations, the first with a capacity of about 200 m3/hour and the second with a capacity of about 50 m3/hour. The pumping stations’ works include all civil, hydro mechanical and electrical works, supply and installation of generators, transformers, power transmission lines, as well as required equipment and supplies for monitoring and operation. This component also includes the laying of pipelines to rehabilitate and expand the distribution networks in the cities of Laayoune and Djiguenni, and provide neighboring villages with drinking water, with a total length of about 76 km and diameters ranging between 63 and 400 mm, and the construction of 6 elevated reservoirs each with a capacity of about 25 m3, in addition to the installation of a number of public taps and house connections.
  2. Technical Services:This includes the review and update of project studies, the preparation of detailed designs and tender documents, and assistance in the tendering and evaluating process, as well as the supervision of project implementation.
  3. Institutional Support:This includes the acquisition of some equipment required for the construction management and operation of the project. It also includes the provision of systems and programs required for the enhancement of the performance of SNDE and the training of its employees.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 90% of the total project cost. The Government of Mauritania will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.