Announcement of Fourth Highway Project in Benin to Receive IDA Credit on May 18, 1981

. FOR ·-IMMEDIATE RELEASE ... 1r • · eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W ., Washington, D.C 20_433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 81/83 May 18, 1981 FOURTH HIGHWAY PROJECT IN BENIN TO RECEIVE IDA CREDIT The International Development Association (IDA) has approved a credit of SOR 9.3 ($11.3 million) to the People's Republic of Benin to support a fourth highway project, which will contribute to the rehabilitation program for the country's primary and secondary roads. IDA is the World Bank's affiliate for concessionary iending. Under the project, vehicles, equipment, fuel, and materials will be provided for the rehabilitation of about 500 kilometers (km) of gravel roads, and for the strengthening and resurfacing of about 84 km of pavement on the important east-west Cotonou-Lorn~ coastal road and the Com~-Lokossa road. The Directorate of Roads and Bridges (DRP), within the Ministry of Public.Works, will also be strengthened by the provision of.additional office space for the creation of an administrative division, by the establishment of two new road maintenance workshops, and technical assistance, including equipment, machine • tools, hand tools, and vehicles. The project also includes a training component for DRP staff. The IDA credit will finance a vehic1e testing center, road signs, and technical assistance for the vehicle inspection program and setting up a national road safety campaign. The resulting higher standard of vehicle inspection is expected to reduce traffic accidents caused by mechanical defects. In addition, two new weighbridges will be installed and two others repaired in order to enforce prescribed axle-load limits. The project also calls for research to be carried out on alternative road construction materials in southern Benin by the national materials testing laboratory. The coastal plain of Benin is poor in road construction materials, and known sources are almost exhausted. If a successful program can be developed, haulage costs of construction materials will be significantly reduced. The $20.3 million project, to which the OPEC Fund is contributing $6 million, is expected to provide improved road service and safety. The IDA credit to the People's Republic of Benin has a term of 50 years, including 10 years of grace, and is interest-free, except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% per annum, to cover iDA's administrative costs. The credit will be corrrnitted when funds are available. • 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 equivalent of the SOR amount of the IDA credit reflects the exchange rates existing at the time of negotiation of the credit. FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C HN I CA L D A T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Fourth Highway Benin $20. 3 mi 11 ion • I DA FINANCING: SOR 9.3 million ($11.3 mJll ion), standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: OPEC Fund, $6 million Government of Benin, $3 million IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministere des Travaux Publics, de la Construction et de 1 'Habitat BP 987 Cotonou, Benin PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The project will: i) continue the program for rehabilitation of paved and gravel roads; ii) improve the organization and administrative procedures of the Direction des Routes et Pants; iii) train field, work- • shop and office staff at different levels to carry out road maintenance tasks; and iv) institute axle-load control and road safety programs. PROCU.REMENT: Road-building equipment and vehicles~ workshop tools and equipment, and weighbridges will be procured through inter- national competitive bidding in accordance with ~orld Bank guidelines. Spare parts will be mainly procured either under a clause in the original equipment supply contract, or by separate local contracts. Laboratory equipment, furniture and office supplies will be obtained through international or local shopping. Building materials for force account building rehabilitation and pipe culvert manufacture will be procured through limited international tendering. Fuel and other petroleum products will be supplied by nego- tiated purchases with the state oil company, SONACOP. CONSULTANTS: The project calls for a totai of 143 man-months of technical assistance for project implementation, procurement, training, contract supervision, setting up Direction des Routes et Pants' Administrative Division, and establishing the road safety and axle-load control programs. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 30% 1985 - 0 - •