BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 13
By Ilkin Seyfaddini – Trend:
The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a $239 million loan from the International Development Association (part of the World Bank Group) to finance a project to develop the water services sector and its institutional support in Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing the World Bank.
"Upon completion of this project, more than 500,000 people in three regions of Uzbekistan will have access to better water supply and sanitation services," said Hideki Mori, head of the World Bank's Uzbekistan office.
The project will modernize sewerage and wastewater treatment facilities in Nukus, Tahiatash and Khojeyli cities in Karakalpakstan. Water supply and sewerage networks will also be expanded and reconstructed in Syrdarya region and Kattakurgan town in Samarkand region.
One of the key objectives of the project is to reduce energy and water losses throughout Uzbekistan. This is planned to be achieved through implementation of a financing mechanism for energy efficiency measures in the water supply services sector, as well as water consumption metering programs, which will be available to local water channels.
In addition, under the project, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs will provide a grant of $7.8 million to develop institutional and regulatory capacity in the water services sector. These project activities will assist the Government of Uzbekistan in reforming the sector to increase its efficiency and transparency.
The World Bank is assisting in the implementation of reforms in Uzbekistan through technical assistance and financing 21 projects with a total value of about $3.5 billion. They are being implemented in the areas of macroeconomic policy development, agriculture, health, education, water supply and sanitation, energy, transport, social protection, as well as urban and rural infrastructure.
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