Announcement of 18.6 Million Dollars for the Guinea First Highway Project on December 24, 1975

eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W. 1 Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 75/77 DECEMBER 24, 1975 • $18.6 MILLION FOR THE GUINEA FIRST HIGHWAY PROJECT The International Development Association,, an affiliate of the World Bank, has approved a $14 million credit for a first highway project in Guinea. The project is designed to satisfy a pressing need for the availability of an efficient and reliable transport system in the country. The system will help linkin& the widely dispersed populatton centers as well as the productive areas to the port of Conakry. The project which is designed to indirectly enhance the Government's efforts to revitalize the agricultural sector, will include (a) rehabilitation as needed of 2,491 kilometers of high priority roads and initiation of proper maintenance operations on these roads; (b) repair of existing equipment and plant and rehabilitation of workshops; ac> purchase of (i) highway equipment and spare parts, (ii) workshop equipment and tools, ~iii) parts for repair of existing equipment and plant, (iv) engineering and laboratory equipment and training materials, and (v) radio equipment; (d) purchase of materials and supplies for project operations; and (e) technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Works, Mining and Geology for the implementation of the project, the training of mechanics and equipment operators, and the preparation of a second phase of the rehabilitation and maintenance program to be executed over 1978/79 - 1980/81. The project is expected to insure g~eater transport reliability, expand the seasonal use of the most important unpaved roads and reduce transport costs. It will train Directorate of Bridges and Roads (DPC) staff, especially mechanics and operators. Finally, it will place an experienced team of consultants within the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) to help the Ministry in its organizational techniques and evaluation of the country's highway needs. The IDA credit to Guinea is for 50 years, including 10 years' grace. It is interest-free except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses. •---- Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9-75) PROJECT: T E CHNI CAL First Highway DAT A • COUNTRY: Guinea • TOTAL COST: $18.6 million IDA FINANCING: $14 million standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Government IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Directorate of Bridges and Roads (DPC) Ministry of Public Works (MPW) Conakry, Guinea PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consits of: (a) rehabilitation as needed of 2,49~ km of high priority roads and injtiation of proper maintenan.'11' operations on these roads; (b) repair of exi.sting equipment and plant and rehabilitation of workshops; (c) purchase of (i) highway equipment and spare parts, (ii) workshop equip- ment and tools, (iii) parts for repair of existing equipment and plant, (iv) engineering and laboratory equipment and training materials, and (v) radio equipment; (d) purchase of materials and supplies for project operations; and (e) technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Works, Mining and Geology for the implementation of the project, the training of mechanics and equipment operators, and the preparation of a second phase of the rehabilitation and maintenance program to be executed over 1978/79 - 1980/81. PROCUREMENT: Equipment, spare parts for new equipment, supplies, and materials amounting to about $8 million will be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding in accordance with Bank Group guidelines. The following items will be procured on the basis of quotations from local suppliers: (i) fuel in the amount of about $2million, (ii) spare part for existing equipment amounting to some $600,000; and (iii) equipment or groups of the same items of equipment with a value less $20,000 but in the aggregate not exceeding $100,000. In evaluating bids for equipment purchase, the availability of after-sales service and spare parts will be important con- siderations. CONSULTANTS: An estimated 264 man-months are required for technical assis- tance to implement the project, including the training component. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: .ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 100% December 31, 1978 • -0-