Announcement of Three Million Dollar Credit for Roads in Mauritania on June 26, 1969

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE • INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 69/26 Subject: $3 million credit for Roads in June 26, 1969 Mauritania A credit equivalent to $3 million to Mauritania from the International De- velopment Association (IDA), announced today, will help finance a four-year pro- gram to partially upgrade its extensive road system to a stage where it can be properly maintained and to improv~ the quality and efficiency of maintenance opera- tions. The IDA credit will finance the purchase of maintenance and workshop equip- ment and the services of consultants to assist the Directorate of Public Works in • the execution of the project and in the training of local technical and maintenance personnel, including mechanics and operators. The IDA credit will be for a term of 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It will be interest-free but a service charge of 3/4 of 1% will be made to cover IDA's administrative expenses. Two asphalt roads both radiating from Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital, are now under construction; one extends to Akjoujt, the site of a copper ore develop- ment and is being built by the mining company; the other extends southward to Rosso on the Senegal border and is being built with the assistance of a.nearlier IDA credit of $6.7 million. With the exception of these two routes and some laterite roads, Mauritania's highway system is made up of rudimentary earth roads. Most of the population and the main agricultural regions are located in the south- ern area. It is in this area that sections of earth roads totaling about 300 miles will be surfaced with laterite to make them passable throughout the year. With continuing maintenance, this will assure the transport of agricultural prod- ucts from cultivation to market areas. The Government of Mauritania will provide the equivalent of $800,000 to cover capital costs of the program in local currency; it will also finance recurrent expenditures on highway maintenance during the program period estimated at the equivalent of $4.8 million • • - 0 -