Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Water Supply to Eastern Cities and Villages from Dhar Basin
Loan No: 580 Interest Rate: 2.5 %
Beneficiary: Société Nationale de L'Eau (SNDE) Grace Period: 7 years
Project Cost: KD 36.2 million Maturity: 25 years
Amount of Loan: KD 20.0 million Repayment: 37 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2012-04-17 First Installment: 7 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2012-04-17 Date of Loan Effectiveness: 2012-07-30

Objectives:

The project aims at covering the shortage in the supply of drinking water in the cities of Nema and Timbedra, and meeting their future water needs, as well as providing drinking water to the residents of several cities, villages, and population communities in Hodh Elcharghi. This will be accomplished by exploiting part of the Dhar basin, by transporting and distributing its water among the residents. The projects also aims at reducing the spread of diseases caused by consumption of contaminated water by the population, thereby contributing to the improvement of their living, environmental and health conditions.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, consists of equipping a number of wells of Dhar basin, the construction of a number of pumping stations and reservoirs, laying pipelines, rehabilitation and extension of existing distribution networks and the construction of new ones, as well as the installation of a number of public taps and house connections. The project also includes providing the technical services needed for preparing studies and tender documents, and supervision of project implementation, in addition to providing institutional support, which includes the construction of a building for the administration and operation of the project and a workshop for equipment maintenance. The project includes the following main components:

  1. Facilities Works Supplying Cities and Villages Extending from Ould Darwish to Timbedgha: This component includes the required works for the facilities that will supply drinking water to Achmim, Nema and Timbedra cities, as well as about 12 villages extending from Ould Darwish to Timbedra. Works also include equipping about 11 groundwater wells with submersible pumps, and laying pipelines for collection and conveyance of water from the wells to consumption areas. This component also includes the construction of about 8 ground and elevated reservoirs, and about 4 pumping stations. The wells and pumping stations’ works include all civil, hydro mechanical and electrical works, supply and installation of generators, transformers, power transmission lines to the wells and pumping stations, as well as the required equipment for operation and supervision. This component also includes laying secondary pipelines to supply villages with water and to rehabilitate and expand distribution networks in cities, in addition to the installation of a number of public taps and house connections.
  2. Facilities Works Supplying Cities and Villages Extending from Baqla to Bengo: This component includes the required works for the facilities that will supply drinking water to Amrouj, Adel Bagrou and about 15 villages extending from Baqla to Bengo. Works also include equipping about 6 groundwater wells with submersible pumps, and laying pipelines for collection and conveyance of water from the wells to consumption areas. This component also includes the construction of about 9 ground and elevated reservoirs, and about 5 pumping stations. The wells and pumping stations’ works include all civil, hydro mechanical and electrical works, supply and installation of generators, transformers, power transmission lines to wells and pumping stations, as well as the required equipment for operation and supervision. This component also includes laying secondary pipelines to provide villages with water and to rehabilitate and expand distribution networks in cities, in addition to the installation of a number of public taps and house connections.
  3. Technical Services: This includes preparing studies, detailed designs, tender documents, and assisting in the tendering and evaluating process, as well as supervising the implementation of the project.
  4. Institutional Support: This includes purchasing equipment, supplies and means of transport required for the administration and operation of the project, as well as constructing a building for the administration of the project operation and a workshop for equipment maintenance. It also includes provision of systems and software required to improve the company’s performance and workers’ training.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 55% of the total project cost. It is expected that the Islamic Development Bank will contribute to the financing of the project with a loan equivalent to KD 13.2 million, about 37% of the total project cost. The Government of Mauritania will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.