Announcement of Tunisia Receives Twenty-Five Million Dollars for Southern Irrigation Project on January 24, 1980

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~ . . .VorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 80/45 January 24, 1980 TUNISIA RECEIVES $25 MILLION FOR SOUTHERN IRRIGATION PROJECT The World Bank has approved a $25 mil 1 ion loan for irrigation in Southern Tunisia. The project .is part of the government's Master Plan for Water Resource Development in Southern Tunisia and aims at developing the groundwater re- sources of the region. The project is designed to increase the production of dates (mostly for export), vegetables and forage; improve the 1 iving standards of the smallholders in the existing oases; and provide employ- • ment opportunities for farm labor in the new oases . Among the major components of the project are the rehabilitation of seven existing oases on about 3,000 hectares (ha) in the Djerid, Nefzaoua and Gabes areas; creation of nine new date palm plantations and date palm/forage plantations on about 2,100 ha in the Djerid and Nefzaoua areas; creation of a date processing facility; and prov1s1on of equipment, facilities and personnel for agriculture services, research, and tech- nical assistance. About 5,100 smallholders mostly in low-income groups are expected to benefit from the project. In addition, improved income opportunities are expected to be provided to about 1,100 permanent workers and about 114,000 man-days of seasonal work will be created. The $25 mill ion loan is for a 17-year term, including a six-year grace. period, with interest at 7.95% per annum. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents . • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T ECHN I CAL DA T A PROJECT: Southern lrrigation ~ COUNTRY: Tunisia TOTAL COST: $72.5 million BANK FINANCING: $25 mi 11 ion, for a term of 17 years, including 6 years of grace, at 7.95% interest per annum. OTHER FINANCING: Government of Tunisia, $42.6 million; Farmers contribution, $4.9 million. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Agriculture, (GR), (OMVD) and (OMVG) Ministere de l 1 Agriculture Genie Rural (GR) TELEX: 13566 TN Rue Alain Savary Tunis, Tunisie PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of: (i) rehabilitation of 7 existing oases on about 3,000 ha in the Djerid, Nefzaoua and Gabes areas; (ii) creation of 9 new date palm plantations and date palm/forage plantation on 2,100 ha in the Djerid and Nefzaoua areas; (iii) creation of a date processing facility; and (iv) provision of equipment, facilities and personnel for agriculture~ services, research and technical assistance (~Oman-months). PROCUREMENT: About fifty-six pumpsets with related well equipment and asbestos cement pipes for irrigation valued at about $4.2 million and $7.l million, respectively, will be procured on the basis of inter- national competitive bidding (ICB) in accordance with Bank procurement quidelines. Contracts for equipment· below $250,000 (but not exceeding $750,000 in aggregate) will be purchased under competitive bidding advertised locally. The deep well boring contracts estimated at totaling $6.4 million will be let under competitive bidding in accordance with local procedures. Procurement for vehicles and agricultural equipment will take place over several years and will include a wide range oj items. Vehicles and agricultural equipment valued at about $1 .2 mill ion (net of contingencies), will be awarded through competitive bidding in accordance with local procedures. The civil works component totaling $20.1 million will consist of widely scattered work and be tendered through local competitive bidding procedures. CONSULTANTS: 48 man-months of consultants' services to assist GR in the preparation of tender documents, bid evaluations and project supervision; and 12 man-months of consultant services to the Direction des Ressources en Eaux et en Sols (ORES) for preparation of the mathematical simulation model. ECONOMIC RATE OF RifURN: 13% ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1985 - 0 - •