Announcement of Eight Million Dollars International Development Association Credit for Water Supply Project in Liberia on December 7, 1978

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE •World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. •Telephone: (202) 477-1234 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 79/25 December 7, 1978 $8 MILLION INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION CREDIT FOR WATER SUPPLY PROJECT IN LIBERIA The International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's soft-loan affiliate, today announced the approval of an $8 million credit to help finance a water supply project in Liberia. The credit will be re- lent to Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC). This project will be the first Bank/lDA involvement in the water sector in L~beria. It is designed to assist the government and the LWSC in expanding Monrovia's water production and distribution capacity, and increasing access to service for the urban poor. Some 50,000 additional consumers in low-income housing areas of Monrovia will benefit through the • provision of public standpipe service . The project will also provide consulting services and technical assistance for the improvement of LWSC's management and operating practices, a sector study as a basis for a sector development plan and strategy, and effective training opportunities and facilities for LWSC's Liberian staff. The $8 million credit will finance 49% of the total cost of the project estimated at $16. 1 million. Co-financing will be provided by the African Development Bank and the Commonwealth Development Corporation, with loans of $2.9 million and $2 million respectively. The balance of the project cost, or about $3.2 million, will be borne by the Government of Liberia. The IDA credit is for 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It is interest free, except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% per annum to meet IDA's administrative costs. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents . • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C HN I C A L DAT A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Water Supply Republic of Liberia $16. 1 million • iDA FINANCING: $8 million, standard LOA terms OTHER FINANCING: African Development Bank (ADB), $2.9 million; Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), $2 million. IMPt~MrnTl'NS ORGANIZATION: Liberia Water and Sewer Corpo,ation (LWSC) P.O. Box 1079 Monrovia, Liberia (Cable: LIWASCO) PROJECT DESCRIPTION: It consists of: (1) the construction of a new raw water supply line from the Mt. Coffee reservoir to the White Plains water treatment plant; (2) construction of an 8 MGD extension to the White Plains treatment plant and an additional 1.5 MG water storage capacity as well as improvement of existing facilities; (3) expansion and improvement of Monrovia', transmission and distribution networks; (4) provision of public stand- pipe service for some 50,000 additional consumers in the low-income housing areas of Monrovia; (5) consulting services for the design and construction supervision • of the project components and for further studies of the future development of water supply in Monrovia and the rest of Liberia; (6) consulting services and tech- nical assistance for the improvement of LWSC's management and operating practices; and (7) establishment of a training program to help fill LWSC's current and future subprofessional manpower requirements. PROCUREMENT: Major procurement contracts for goods and construction services valued at $7.7 million and to be financed from the credit will be awarded through international competitive bidding in accordance with Bank guidelines. LWSC has now standardized on one type of domestic water meter and additional requirements to be provided under the project (esti- mated to cost about $60,000) are to be obtained from the same manufacturer. Small items such as small domestic pipes and construction materials will be procured on the basis of competitive bidding advertized locally in accordance with procedures satisfactory to IDA. Goods and services financed by ADB will be procured in accordance with ADB's procedures. CONSULTANTS: Eleven man-years of technical assistance is provided under the project for reinforcing LWSC's management and project implementation capacity. The appointment of a11 consultants to be engaged for the various components of the project to be financed by IDA would take place on terms and conditions acceptable to IDA and LWSC. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 9% 1982 - 0 - •