Announcement of Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars for Highway Development in Central African Empire on September 7, 1978

FOR IMMl!D!A TE RELEAS-E .World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 I DA NEWS RELEASE NO. 79/12 SEPTEMBER 7, 1978 $15.5 MILLION FOR HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AFRICAN EMPIRE The International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's affiliate for concessional lending, has approved a $15.5 million credit for a Third Highway Project in the Central African Empire. The $25.7 million project consists of the reconstruction of the Bangui-Bossembele road (145 kilometers) to a two-lane bituminous sealed standard, including the construction of a new two-lane bridge on a modified alignment at the M1 Bali River crossing; and technical assistance for labo- ratory services related to construction supervision and for completion of • detailed engineering, prequalification of contractors,and evaluation of bids. The Bangui-Bossembele road will improve the landlocked Empire's access to the ocean. As part of the Trans-African highway and of the Trans- Equatorial route serving landlocked Chad, the project also contributes to tile economic development of the Central African region. In addition it is expected that it will stimulate agricultural development in some populated areas by providing improved access to markets and reduced costs of supplying inputs. The African Development Fund (AFDEV) and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) are both contributing to the financing of the project with a $5.6 million credit and a $3.6 million loan respectively. The $15.5 million IDA credit to the Central African Empire will be for 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It will be interest free but will carry a service charge of 3/4 of 1% per annum to cover IDA's administrative expenses. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents • • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T ECHNI CAL DAT A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Third Highway Central African Empire $25 • 7 mi 11 i on • I DA FI NANC I NG: $15.5 million, standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Kuwait Fund $3 • 6 mi 11 i on African Development Fund $5. 6 mi 11 i on Government of Central African Empire $ 1• 0 mi l 1 i on IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZAT!ON: Directorate General of Public Works P.O.B. 978 Bangui, Central African Empire Telex: DIRGETP 5267 EC PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of the reconstruction of the Bangui- Bossembe]e road to a two-lane bituminous sealed standard including the construction of a two-lane bridge over the M1 Bali River; and technical assistance for laboratory services related to construction supervision and for compietion of detailed engineering, prequalification of contractors, and evaluation of bids. • P ROCU.REMEMT: All procurement will be based on international competitive bidding and after prequalification of bidders which has already taken place. The Government intends to award the contracts to the lowest bidders: a French firm for roadworks and a local firm for bridge works~ CONSULTANTS: C. Berger (U.S.A.) ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: EST IMATEO COMPLETION DATE: 12% 1981 - 0 - •