Announcement of IDA to Support Second Feeder Roads Project in Benin on December 24, 1980

' . · 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. 81/33 December 24, 1980 IDA TO SUPPORT SECOND FEEDER ROADS PROJECT IN BENIN The International Development Association (IDA) has announced the approval of a credit of SDR 5.5 mi 11 ion ($7 mi 11 ion) to the Government of the People's Republic of Benin for a second feeder roads project. IDA is the soft-loan affiliate of the World Bank. The $8.7 million project provides for the improvement and subsequent main- tenance of the country's feeder road network. It will also include technical assistance aimed at strengthening the Feeder Roads Division within the Ministry of Public Work~ • The project will finance the construction of some 700 kilometers (km) and the maintenance of about 1,200 km of feeder roads, Highway maintenance equipment and spare parts, materials, and supplies will be provided, and a highway maintenance brigade and special feeder road maintenance brigades will be established. The technical assistance provided under the First Feeder Roads Project will continue through the first year of the project. This assistance is then expected to be phased out and to be replaced by Beninese counterpart staff who have been on the job since early 1980. The principal beneficiaries of the project will be farmers who will have year-round access to markets for their surplus production. Other users, who will realize important savings from reduced vehicle operating costs, will also benefit. The Government of Benin will contribute $1.7 million towards the cost of the project. The IDA credit is for 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It carries no interest but wil 1 bear a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover the Associa- tion's administrative expenses. • NOTE: IDA credits are denominated in SDRs (Special Drawing Rights), which are valued on the basis of a "basket" of currencies. The U.S. dollar equiv- alent of the SOR amount of the IDA credit reflects the exchange rates existing at the time of negotiation of the credit. FORM NO. i 121 (5-76) E C H N I CA L • T DA TA PROJECT: Second Feeder Roads COUNTRY: People's Republic of Benin TOTAL COST: $8.7 million IDA FINANCING: SDR 5.5 million ($7 million), standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Government of Benin $1.7 million IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministere des Travaux Publics, de la Construction et de l 'Habitat Cotonou, People's Republic of Benin PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will finance a three-year program of feeder road construction and maintenance which will comprise: (a) construction by force account of about 700 kilometers (km) of feeder roads; (b) mail tenance of about 1,200 km of feeder roads; and technical assistance to the Feeder Ro Division within the Ministry of Public Works for carrying out civil works, project mon tar- ing, staff training, and the preparation of future feeder roads programs. PROCUREMENT: All civil works will be carried out by force account. Equip- ment and vehicles valued at $1. 1 mill ion will be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding in accordance with the Association's guide- lines. Goods manufactured locally will be given a preference of up to 15 percent. Fuel, 1ubricants, construction materials and handtools valued at $1.6 million may be procured on the basis of local procedures acceptable to the Association. CONSULTANTS: Consultants already working under the First Feeder Roads Project wil 1 be retained. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 20% 1983 • - 0 ·-