Announcement of Algeria Sahara Regional Development Project on September 27, 1991

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 'World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 92/15 Contact: Fawzi Rihane Tel: (202) 473-2675 ALGERIA: SAHARA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT The following is information on a project announced in the latest issue of World Bank News. DATE: September 27, 1991 WORLD BANK GROUP SUPPORT: World Bank loan: $57 million. The loan is for 17 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.73 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.25 percent on the undisbursed balance. TOTAL COST: $94.4 million OTHER FINANCING: Government of Algeria, $34.8 million; Beneficiaries, $2.6 million IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: Commission for Agricultural Development in the Sahara Region (CDARS) ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1998 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The objectives of the Sahara Regional Development Project are to: (a) support an environmentally sound development program for northern Sahara; (b) define a strategy for agricultural development within the constraints determined by that program; (c) strengthen institutions dealing with management, monitoring, and control of water resources; and (d) test the technical, organizational, and managerial aspects of rehabilitated irrigation in a first phase of oases renovation. The project includes: (a) institutional development to strengthen agencies involved with planning, implementing, and monitoring agricultural development in the region, including the establishment of monitoring systems for water use and for water and soil quality; development of applied research, training, and extension; creation of an agency for operation and maintenance of the common main drainage infrastructure; and development of a project coordination unit for project execution; (b) rehabilitation of oases through drilling of new and replacement wells, provision of pumping equipment, and construction of irrigation and drainage networks over an area of about 3,550 hectares; (c) on-farm development through improvement of agricultural production and provision of farm implements to develop mechanization of agricultural practices; and (d) studies, technical assistance, and training, including preparation of development plans, feasibility studies, environmental assessments for future investments in the sector, provision of technical assistance, and training of staff.